A comprehensive review of online pornography has recommended a ban on content deemed degrading, violent, and misogynistic, sparking debate about the extent to which the state should regulate online sexual content. Commissioned by the previous government, the review, led by Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin, urges ministers to grant Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, significant powers to police pornography websites containing “harmful” material. This move comes amid growing concerns about the impact of readily available and often extreme pornography online, particularly on young people.
The review specifically proposes outlawing “degrading, violent and misogynistic content,” including making it illegal to possess or distribute pornography depicting non-fatal strangulation of women during sex. While non-fatal strangulation is already a criminal offense when non-consensual, its depiction in online pornography remains unregulated and, according to the review, is alarmingly prevalent on mainstream platforms. This highlights a significant gap in current legislation and regulation concerning online pornography.
Key Recommendations for Online Pornography Regulation
The report argues that pornography videos deemed too harmful for any age rating in the offline world should be equally prohibited online. Baroness Bertin contends that online pornography contributes to serious societal problems, linking it to “domestic violence, toxic masculinity, and the mental health crisis among young people.” She emphasized in a BBC interview, “I’m not saying that people shouldn’t watch porn. I’m not saying porn shouldn’t exist. I’m not a prude.” However, her 32 recommendations aim to address the “high-harm sector” of legal online pornography, initiating a crucial discussion about the boundaries of state intervention in personal sexual lives.
Baroness Bertin points out the regulatory disparity between online and offline content. “It strikes me as incredible that to buy a DVD… the BBFC [British Board of Film Classification] has to put a stamp on it, has to check that certain standards have been met… You just have to go on the homepages of some of these mainstream sites and you will see of all that degrading content – particularly violent towards women – and it’s all there for everyone to see.” This lack of online scrutiny, she argues, allows harmful content to proliferate unchecked, especially content that is violent and degrading towards women.
Concerns Over Normalization of Harmful Behavior
The review emphasizes that pornography websites depicting non-fatal choking of women during sex have normalized such behavior in reality. This normalization, coupled with the widespread availability of violent and degrading material on mainstream platforms, occurs amidst a “total absence of government scrutiny.” Research cited in the report indicates that over a quarter of the UK population regularly accesses online porn, with a significant portion watching it at least weekly. The review concludes that increasingly disturbing content is negatively influencing young people’s perceptions of gender, sex, and societal roles, potentially “rewiring” their understanding of these crucial aspects of life.
The Department for Science Innovation and Technology has acknowledged the review’s findings and stated it will examine the highlighted links between online pornography and societal harms. A spokesperson mentioned the existing Online Safety Act, which from next month will require platforms to proactively address illegal content, including extreme pornography and sexual abuse material, and the ban on creating intimate deepfakes without consent. However, they admitted, “further action is needed to address the review’s shocking finding that graphic strangulation is increasingly appearing in pornography, despite being illegal, and is becoming normalised in real life.” The government has pledged to “urgently ensure that platforms, law enforcement and prosecutors take all necessary steps to tackle this disturbing harm.” Downing Street echoed these concerns, describing the report’s findings as “shocking” and suggesting swift action to address legal gaps, though stopping short of explicitly endorsing a full ban.
Varying Perspectives on Pornography Regulation
The End Violence Against Women Coalition welcomed the review’s recommendations, urging government action to address the harms caused by the current state of the pornography industry. Andrea Simon, the group’s director, stated, “We know these companies are profiting enormously from sexual violence, and until they are forced to clean up their act, they won’t.”
Conversely, Madelaine Thomas, an adult content creator, while welcoming the review, expressed concerns about policing people’s sexual interests. “If we look to police people’s sexual interests that’s problematic… I don’t think prohibition has ever eliminated demand in any way but I do think there are ways that we can work together to come up with frameworks that prioritise both consent and compassion and allow people to create and view what they would like to view on the internet.” This highlights the complex balance between regulation and personal freedom in the context of online pornography.
Impact on Young People and Societal Values
Baroness Bertin argues that stricter controls over currently legal online pornography are essential to prevent real-world violence against women and girls. The review points to an instance of a 14-year-old boy asking a teacher about choking girls during sex, illustrating how online porn can create a “confusing world for our sons.” Baroness Bertin writes, “They are, quite rightly, encouraged and taught to reject sexist attitudes, while a subterranean online world of pornography is simultaneously showing them that anything goes.” The report urges ministers to fund programs promoting positive masculinity and countering misogynistic culture among boys and young men, acknowledging the need for a multi-faceted approach to address the issue.
While noting BBC research indicating that up to 38% of British women have experienced strangulation during intercourse, and nearly half of those desired it, the review emphasizes the societal consensus that “enough is enough” regarding harmful online pornography and its impact on young people. Existing measures within the Online Safety Act aim to increase pornography regulation, including preventing children’s access to explicit content. However, this review suggests a need for significantly stronger measures to tackle the normalization of harmful content within the realm of online porn.
