UK to Criminalise Pornography Depicting Choking

The UK government has moved to close a troubling gap in legislation by announcing that pornography depicting acts of strangulation or suffocation will soon become a criminal offence.

The change comes via amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently being debated in Parliament. Possession or publication of such material will be punishable, and online platforms will be required to prevent UK users from accessing it.

Why the Change Was Brought In

The push follows an independent review led by Baroness Gabby Bertin, which found that pornography is contributing to the belief that strangulation in sexual contexts is safe or normal.

Evidence given to the review included testimony from teachers who say students were asking how to choke their partners, believing it to be part of consensual sex. The government said this content is not only degrading but also harmful in real life, especially to women and girls.

What the Legislation Requires

Once the amendments pass, the depiction of strangulation or suffocation will be designated a “priority offence”. Online platforms will be legally required to take proactive steps to stop the content from reaching UK users. That could include automated detection tools, stricter moderation, or blocking technology.

Companies that fail to comply may face fines of up to £18 million, enforced by Ofcom under the Online Safety Act 2023. At the same time, the law will extend the time limit during which victims of intimate image abuse can come forward, from six months to three years.

What This Means for the Industry and Users

For the pornography industry, this marks a significant tightening of rules. Some forms of content that were previously legal because they were produced and distributed outside the UK may now become accessible only under much stricter controls—or blocked entirely for UK users. Advocacy groups welcomed the change, arguing it moves the focus from production to consumption and access.

They argue the depiction of strangulation isn’t just fantasy—it can influence behaviour, normalise violence, and put people at risk. This is especially relevant given that non-fatal strangulation is often a warning sign in domestic abuse cases. The logic is that what is normalised in pornography can bleed into relationship behaviour.

Challenges and Wider Implications

Implementing the law won’t be simple. Enforcing a ban on content produced globally but accessed in the UK raises jurisdictional questions. Tech platforms will be under pressure to balance privacy, free expression and safety.

Critics argue that the law risks criminalising consensual adults and creative expression, while supporters point out that the harm is real, including long-term brain damage caused by strangulation. The government’s move signals a new level of accountability for online content, and suggests that consent alone may no longer shield portrayals of certain acts from legal scrutiny.

You might also want to read: OpenAI Launches Own Atlas Browser to Take on Google Chrome