The British government is introducing new criminal laws targeting certain forms of pornography depicting strangulation, incest and adults role-playing as children. The new rules will take effect on November 6, 2026, in England and Wales, making it illegal to possess or publish specified pornographic material that explicitly and realistically portrays these acts.
The measures form part of the UK government’s broader effort to address violence against women and girls and reduce the availability of online content that officials say may normalize harmful or abusive behavior. The legislation follows recommendations from an independent review of pornography regulation and calls from campaigners for stronger protections.
Under the new rules, the restrictions cover pornography that realistically depicts strangulation or suffocation, specified sexual acts between people who are related or portrayed as relatives, and sexual activity involving adults who appear to be or are pretending to be under 16. The law defines the covered scenarios more narrowly than a general ban on all fictional or role-play content.
The penalties vary depending on the type of material. Possessing pornography depicting strangulation, suffocation or certain incestuous acts can carry a maximum sentence of two years in prison, while possession of covered material involving adults pretending to be under 16 can carry up to three years. Publishing any of the specified material can carry a maximum sentence of five years.
The government says the changes are intended to strengthen protections against sexual abuse and prevent content that portrays harmful or illegal behavior from being distributed online. Justice officials have also emphasized that the rules target defined categories of material rather than seeking to criminalize sexual preferences in general.
Before the rules take effect, the government has advised people to remove and permanently delete material covered by the new offences. The guidance notes that continued possession or publication after November 6 may constitute an offence, even if the material was obtained or uploaded before that date.
The new measures mark a significant change in the UK’s approach to regulating extreme pornography. Their implementation will place new responsibilities on individuals and online platforms as authorities work to enforce the law and assess its impact.
