From November 6th, online porn depicting choking or incest will be illegal in England and Wales. This follows a review that highlighted the normalization of such content among young people, leading to real-life dangers.

Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin, who led the review, stated the new rules will send an 'unequivocal signal' that extreme and violent content is unacceptable.

The changes, part of the Crime and Policing Bill, target content showing strangulation, suffocation, or sexual activity between family members. Penalties for possession or publication can be severe, up to five years' imprisonment.

Experts welcome the move but caution that tech platforms and regulators must swiftly act to remove such material.

‘He strangled me without asking’ – the normalization of sexual violence in porn is becoming a serious concern, with real-world consequences for those who imitate such acts.