By Islam El-Sakka
The UK will ban certain types of pornography from November 6, 2026, following cross-party pressure over the negative impact on women and girls. The ban covers pornography depicting strangulation or suffocation, sex between relatives or those pretending to be related, and adults roleplaying as children under 16.
Penalties for violations
Possessing or publishing material showing strangulation, suffocation, or penetrative sex between relatives carries up to two years' imprisonment. Material depicting sexual activity involving a person who is or appears to be under 16 carries up to three years. The Ministry of Justice clarified the ban applies only to content a "reasonable person" would believe depicts real people.
Government rationale
Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones said the government aims to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. She emphasized that pornography can shape perceptions of healthy relationships, especially among young people, and that content normalizing violence against women is dangerous.
Background and recommendations
The ban stems from a 2025 review by Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin, who said the move comes "not a moment too soon." Her report found pornography showing women being choked has "devastating" real-world consequences and highlighted disturbing role-play including incest and adults portraying children. Studies cited show high prevalence of strangulation during sex among young adults.
Industry and societal impact
Baroness Bertin said the law sends an unequivocal signal to companies hosting porn and to society that extreme violent content encouraging real-life harm is unacceptable. Davies-Jones urged anyone possessing such material to delete it and stop sharing it, noting it becomes criminal after November 6.
