LONDON — The British government is advancing legislation that would criminalize the portrayal of non-fatal strangulation in online pornography, placing such content in the same severe legal category as terrorism material and child sexual abuse imagery.
According to official confirmations, the government has introduced amendments to the pending Crime and Policing Bill that would classify content featuring choking as a "priority offense" under the Online Safety Act. This designation requires technology companies and social media platforms to proactively prevent users from accessing this material and to remove it swiftly when identified.
The move follows a government-commissioned "pornography review" published in February, which recommended banning adult content deemed "degrading, violent and misogynistic." The review specifically identified choking content as a primary target for regulation.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall endorsed the proposed ban, stating that accessing or distributing such material is "deeply distressing, vile and dangerous." She further asserted that those who share or promote this content are "contributing to a culture of violence and abuse that has no place in our society."
The legislation has drawn criticism from free speech advocates and adult industry representatives. Mike Stabile, Director of Public Policy for the Free Speech Coalition, previously argued that the ban represents "policing desire" rather than genuine protection of women. He emphasized that consent should be the determining factor in what content is legal, not government officials' subjective judgments.
Paulita Pappel, a European director, performer and sex work activist, warned that the regulations would disproportionately impact independent creators. She suggested the law would make it more difficult to produce and distribute diverse content, ultimately limiting public access to varied adult media.
The Crime and Policing Bill, containing these amendments, is currently under consideration in the House of Lords and is expected to move forward in revised form in the coming weeks. The legislation represents one of the most significant expansions of online content regulation in the UK since the passage of the Online Safety Act.
