A recent review has ignited discussions around the regulation of Pornography Online, proposing a ban on content deemed degrading, violent, and misogynistic. Commissioned by the previous government, the review, led by Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin, urges ministers to empower Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, with significant authority to police online pornographic material considered “harmful.”
The core recommendation of the review is to outlaw “degrading, violent and misogynistic content.” This includes a controversial proposition to criminalize the possession or distribution of pornography depicting non-fatal strangulation of women during sex. While non-fatal strangulation is already a criminal offense in cases of non-consent, its depiction in online pornography currently falls outside legal boundaries. The review highlights the prevalence of such content on mainstream platforms, raising serious concerns.
This proposal comes in the wake of growing concerns about the accessibility and impact of pornography online. Baroness Bertin emphasizes the potential societal consequences of easily accessible harmful content, linking online pornography to issues like domestic violence, toxic masculinity, and the escalating mental health crisis, particularly among young people.
In a BBC interview, Baroness Bertin clarified her stance: “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” within legal online pornography. These recommendations are expected to spark a significant debate about the appropriate level of state intervention in personal sexual lives.
Baroness Bertin argues that the current regulatory framework for online pornography is inadequate compared to offline content. She pointed out the stringent checks and classifications by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) for DVDs, ensuring content adheres to specific standards, including the absence of material that could encourage child sexual abuse or depict harmful and degrading practices beyond consensual roleplay. She contrasts this with the readily available degrading and violent content, particularly targeting women, on mainstream pornography websites.
The review underscores the normalization of harmful behaviors depicted in online pornography. It suggests that the depiction of non-fatal choking of women in pornography online contributes to the normalization of such behavior in real-life contexts. The report cites research indicating that over a quarter of the UK population regularly accesses online porn, with a significant portion of men watching it weekly. The review concludes that the increasingly disturbing nature of available content is negatively influencing young people’s understanding of gender, sex, and societal roles.
The Department for Science Innovation and Technology has acknowledged the review’s findings and stated it will examine the highlighted links between pornography online and societal harms. A spokesperson noted existing measures, such as the ban on creating intimate deepfakes without consent and the upcoming Online Safety Act, which mandates platforms to proactively tackle illegal content, including extreme pornography and sexual abuse material. However, they conceded that further action is necessary to address the review’s “shocking finding” regarding the increasing prevalence of graphic strangulation in pornography online, despite its illegality, and its normalization in real life. The government has pledged to ensure platforms, law enforcement, and prosecutors take necessary steps to combat this “disturbing harm.” Downing Street echoed these concerns, describing the report’s findings as “shocking” and indicating a commitment to “act swiftly” to address legal gaps, although stopping short of explicitly endorsing a ban.
The End Violence Against Women Coalition welcomed the review’s recommendations and urged government action to address the harms stemming from the current state of the pornography online 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.”
Madelaine Thomas, an adult content creator, also expressed support for the review but cautioned against overly broad restrictions on sexual expression. “If we look to police people’s sexual interests that’s problematic,” she stated. She advocated for collaborative solutions that prioritize consent and compassion while allowing individuals to create and consume content online, suggesting that prohibition alone may not eliminate demand.
Baroness Bertin contends that stricter controls on currently legal pornography online are crucial to preventing real-world violence against women and girls. The review highlights an instance of a 14-year-old boy asking a teacher about choking girls during sex, illustrating the “confusing world” online pornography creates for young people. She argues that while boys are taught to reject sexist attitudes, the pervasive world of pornography online simultaneously presents a contradictory message that “anything goes.”
The report urges ministers to invest in programs for boys and young men that promote positive masculinity and counteract misogynistic culture. Citing BBC research, the review notes that while up to 38% of British women have experienced strangulation during sex, nearly half of them desired it. The report acknowledges the importance of “freedom of sexual expression and its nuance.” However, it ultimately concludes that society has reached a point where “enough is enough” regarding harmful online pornography and its detrimental effects on young people.
Existing measures to regulate pornography online, including age verification to prevent child access, are already incorporated within the Online Safety Act, enacted in October 2023. The current review and its recommendations represent a significant step further, pushing for content-based restrictions on pornography online to address broader societal harms.
