Porn Showing Choking or Incest to Be Banned From November 6, Government Announces
The UK government has announced that pornography depicting choking, suffocation and incestuous sexual activity will be banned from November 6, 2026. The new rules will make it illegal to possess or publish certain types of pornographic material in England and Wales.
The measures are part of the government’s efforts to tackle harmful sexual content and reduce violence against women and girls. They will also cover pornography featuring adults pretending to be children under the age of 16.
The announcement follows growing political pressure and recommendations from an independent review of pornography regulation.
New Pornography Ban Takes Effect in November
From November 6, people in England and Wales will face criminal penalties for possessing or publishing certain pornographic images that explicitly and realistically depict strangulation or suffocation.
The restrictions will also cover specified sexual acts between relatives or people pretending to be related. In addition, the law will target material showing adults role-playing sexual activity involving someone who appears to be under 16.
According to the government, the offences are designed to address content that may normalise harmful behaviour or make violence appear acceptable in intimate relationships.
The rules apply to material that appears to depict real people. They can also cover realistic artificial intelligence-generated images that meet the legal requirements.
The government has urged people who possess prohibited material to remove it before the new rules come into force.
Government Explains Reasons for the Ban
Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones said the government was concerned about the availability of harmful pornography online.
She explained that pornography could influence how people, particularly young viewers, understand relationships and sexual behaviour.
The minister also stressed that the legislation was not intended to criminalise harmless sexual preferences. Instead, it focuses on material that normalises or glorifies violence and other harmful conduct.
The government has committed to reducing violence against women and girls over the next decade. Officials say tackling the availability of violent sexual content forms part of that wider objective.
Under the new rules, publishing prohibited material could include uploading it to a website, posting it on social media, sending it to another person or otherwise making it available.
Possession could also include keeping the material on a mobile phone, computer or cloud storage account.
Independent Review Raised Concerns About Violent Pornography
The new restrictions follow an independent review of pornography regulation led by Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin.
The review, published in 2025, examined concerns about the availability of extreme sexual content and its possible influence on real-world behaviour.
It highlighted the widespread appearance of choking in online pornography and warned that repeated exposure could contribute to the normalisation of dangerous sexual practices.
The review also raised concerns about incest-themed role-play and adults portraying children in sexual scenarios.
Its recommendations contributed to the government’s decision to introduce tougher legal restrictions.
Baroness Bertin welcomed the announcement, arguing that stronger laws could send a clear message to pornography companies about the responsibilities associated with hosting harmful material.
Campaigners working to end violence against women and girls have also welcomed the measures.
However, they have stressed that effective enforcement will be essential if the new restrictions are to make a meaningful difference.
What Penalties Could People Face?
The new legislation introduces different penalties depending on the type of material involved and the offence committed.
Under the government’s published guidance, possessing pornography depicting strangulation, suffocation or certain sexual acts between relatives could result in up to two years in prison.
Possessing material depicting sexual activity involving someone who appears to be under 16 could attract a maximum sentence of three years.
Publishing prohibited material can carry a maximum prison sentence of five years.
The law’s definition of publication is broad. It can include sharing, uploading, distributing or otherwise making prohibited images available to another person.
The government has also explained that possession can include retaining material in digital storage rather than keeping a physical copy.
The restrictions will apply from November 6, meaning people who possess or publish material covered by the new offences must take action before that date.
Questions Remain About Enforcement
Although campaigners have welcomed the new rules, questions remain about how effectively they will be enforced across online platforms.
Pornography websites and other services may need to review their content and procedures to ensure they comply with the law.
The government has also highlighted the importance of preventing harmful material from reaching users online.
Experts have argued that legislation must be supported by effective enforcement and responsible action from technology companies.
The new rules represent a significant change in the regulation of pornography in England and Wales. However, their long-term impact will depend partly on how authorities apply the law and how online platforms respond.
For now, the government is urging people to familiarise themselves with the new requirements before November 6.
The legislation aims to restrict specific forms of pornography considered harmful while establishing criminal penalties for possessing or distributing material covered by the law.
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