Online pornography depicting strangulation, suffocation, or incestuous relationships will become illegal from 6 November, the government has announced. The ban will criminalise the possession and publication of such material, following a 2025 review that found depictions of choking were widespread on mainstream adult websites and had contributed to normalising the practice among young people.
From that date, it will be a criminal offence to possess or distribute pornography showing strangulation or suffocation, depicting sexual activity between people who are related, or showing adults role-playing as children under 16. The legislation amends the Crime and Policing Act, which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026.
What prompted the ban?
The restrictions stem from an independent review commissioned by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government and led by Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin. That review documented that depictions of choking were "rife" on popular pornography sites and had helped normalise the act, particularly among younger audiences. The review cited a concerning example of a 14-year-old boy asking a teacher how to choke girls during sexual activity, and warned that people imitating such behaviour "may face devastating consequences".
Baroness Bertin said the announcement came "not a moment too soon". She told the Press Association that the change in law would "send the unequivocal signal" to companies that host and facilitate pornography, and to wider society, that "extreme and violent content that encourages real-life harm is not acceptable".
What will the penalties be?
The new offences carry maximum penalties of five years' imprisonment for publication, which the government defines as uploading, posting, or otherwise making content available to someone online. Possession offences carry lower sentences: up to three years for images depicting sexual activity involving a person pretending to be under 16, and up to two years for images depicting strangulation, suffocation, or penetrative sexual activity between certain relatives.
Possession is defined broadly to include keeping an image stored on a phone, computer, or in cloud storage. The law also covers explicit, realistic images that a reasonable person would think depict real people, as well as realistic AI-generated images.
How will platforms be held accountable?
The offences will also be priority offences under the Online Safety Act, requiring platforms to assess risks and take proportionate steps to prevent the material appearing. Ofcom can fine non-compliant services up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is higher. Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones emphasised that the law was not about "criminalising harmless sexual preferences", but about preventing content that normalises violence.
Porn can shape what people think a healthy relationship looks like, especially young people. Content which normalises, or even glorifies, violence against women can blur the line with what is acceptable in real life.
Davies-Jones added:
If you've got this material, delete it. If you're sharing it, stop. It's not as harmless as you may think, and after 6 November, it is criminal.
What does the law cover?
The incest offence covers people portrayed as related or pretending to be related, including certain step- and foster-family scenarios involving someone portrayed as under 18. Pornography showing sex between step or foster-relations where one person is pretending to be under 18 will be captured by the new offences. The Act provides a defence to possession in specified circumstances, including having a legitimate reason or directly participating in the depicted act where no non-consensual harm occurred.
Non-fatal strangulation without consent has already been an offence, but its depiction in pornography was not previously illegal. The amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill sought to ensure such content would be captured by the legislation and made criminal offences in England and Wales.
What do experts say?
Durham University law professor Clare McGlynn, who has previously warned that widely available extreme content normalises sexual violence, welcomed the laws taking full effect.
This is a potential turning point, the commencement of these laws marking a line in the sand when we decided that we were no longer going to accept the normalisation of sexually violent content in pornography.
However, McGlynn raised concerns about implementation.
While these are criminal offences, this is not about prosecuting individuals, but transforming the online pornographic landscape and that requires the platforms and regulator to act.She said questions remained over how swiftly tech platforms and regulators would act to remove and mitigate the spread of violating material.
A 2019 survey found that 38% of women aged 18–39 had been choked during sex, highlighting how widespread the practice has become among younger generations.
What happens next?
The Act requires ministers to report to Parliament within 12 months of Royal Assent on platforms' age and consent verification for people appearing in pornographic content. With Royal Assent granted on 29 April 2026, that report is due by April 2027. This reporting requirement reflects broader concerns about how platforms verify the age and consent of performers featured in adult material.
Key Facts:
- From 6 November 2026, possessing or publishing pornography depicting strangulation, suffocation, incest, or adults role-playing as children under 16 becomes illegal in England and Wales
- Publication carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment; possession of strangulation or incest material carries up to two years
- Platforms must treat these as priority offences under the Online Safety Act, with Ofcom able to fine non-compliant services up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue
- The ban follows a 2025 government review that found choking depictions were widespread on mainstream pornography sites and had normalised the practice among young people
- Ministers must report to Parliament by April 2027 on how platforms verify age and consent of performers in pornographic content
