UK Bans Pornography Depicting Sex Acts Between Stepfamily Members
The UK government has agreed to ban the production of pornography depicting sexual acts between stepfamily members following a narrow vote in the House of Lords. The amendment, tabled by Conservative peer Lady Gabby Bertin, expands existing regulations on harmful online content to include so-called step-incest. Although some ministers initially opposed the measure due to legal complexities regarding consensual adult step-relations, the amendment passed by a single vote, with 144 in favor and 143 against. Under the new law, individuals found possessing or publishing such material, particularly where one party pretends to be under 18, face criminal penalties including imprisonment. Lady Bertin welcomed the decision as a crucial step in normalizing protections against abusive family dynamics and child sexual abuse mimicry. This ban aligns with broader government efforts to combat misogynistic content, including recent criminalization of strangulation depictions and upcoming measures holding tech executives personally accountable for failing to remove non-consensual intimate images. Officials emphasize that these regulations aim to create a safer online environment and address the real-life consequences of violent and abusive pornography on women and girls.
Wire timeline
UK Bans Pornography Depicting Sex Acts Between Stepfamily Members
The UK government has agreed to ban the production of pornography depicting sexual acts between stepfamily members following a narrow vote in the House of Lords. The amendment, tabled by Conservative peer Lady Gabby Bertin, expands existing regulations on harmful online content to include so-called step-incest. Although some ministers initially opposed the measure due to legal complexities regarding consensual adult step-relations, the amendment passed by a single vote, with 144 in favor and 143 against. Under the new law, individuals found possessing or publishing such material, particularly where one party pretends to be under 18, face criminal penalties including imprisonment. Lady Bertin welcomed the decision as a crucial step in normalizing protections against abusive family dynamics and child sexual abuse mimicry. This ban aligns with broader government efforts to combat misogynistic content, including recent criminalization of strangulation depictions and upcoming measures holding tech executives personally accountable for failing to remove non-consensual intimate images. Officials emphasize that these regulations aim to create a safer online environment and address the real-life consequences of violent and abusive pornography on women and girls.
The Guardian