UK government bans pornography depicting strangulation and incest from November

The UK government has banned several types of pornography, starting 6 November. It is now illegal to own or publish content showing strangulation, suffocation, or sexual activity between relatives. Material showing adults pretending to be children under 16 is also banned.

The government reviewed popular pornography websites and found that violent content was very common. A 2024 study found that over one-third of people aged 16 to 34 said they had experienced choking during sex. Among sexually active 16 to 17-year-olds, 43 percent reported the same.

Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones said the ban supports the government's goal to reduce violence against women and girls by half within ten years. Tech company bosses could face fines or prison if their platforms do not remove illegal content.