The United Kingdom has officially banned a controversial category of adult content that depicts a particular act.
The ruling cites its dangerous influence and real-life consequences for women and girls.
This decision follows findings from the Independent P*** Review, led by Baroness Gabby Bertin, which concluded that its normalization in s**ual content has contributed to increasing violence against women.
The new legislation will be added as an amendment to the existing Crime and Policing Bill.
Government officials have expressed strong support for the move, emphasizing the dangers posed by such content.
Alex Davies-Jones, the Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, highlighted the urgency of the ban, the New York Post reports: “Depicting strangulation during s** is not only dangerous, but also degrading, with real-life consequences for women.”
She underscored that the measure aims to combat the normalization of violence and deliver a strong message that misogynistic content will not be tolerated in the U.K.
The decision has been welcomed by advocacy groups, including the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), which has long campaigned against the portrayal of violent acts in p***ography.
Andrea Simon, director of EVAW, explained the severe risks involved: “There is no such thing as safe strangulation; women cannot consent to the long-term harm it can cause, including impaired cognitive functioning and memory.”
She pointed out that the widespread availability of such content online contributes to harmful behaviors, particularly among younger viewers who may mimic what they see without understanding the risks.
Simon also emphasized the broader implications of this step, stating: “This is a vital step towards recognizing the role violent p**nography plays in shaping attitudes to women and regulating an industry which promotes and profits from violence against women.”
The organization sees this legal action as a significant move toward curbing the broader culture of violence and misogyny that has been increasingly linked to the consumption of violent adult content.
The new regulation sends a clear message that certain depictions of s**ual behavior, particularly those that promote harm, are no longer acceptable in mainstream content.
With growing evidence connecting p***ography to harmful s**ual practices and increased aggression, this legislative shift is intended to safeguard women and promote healthier, consensual representations of s**uality.
By criminalizing strangulation-themed content, the U.K. hopes to influence cultural norms, protect potential victims, and hold content creators and distributors more accountable for the material they produce and profit from.
