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Topics: UK News, Sex and Relationships
Ben Williams
The UK is set to tighten its rules around online pornography again, with ministers preparing to outlaw two types of content as pressure grows over what is still being allowed to circulate online.
The government had been facing demands to go further on harmful material, especially after campaigners and MPs argued that porn on the internet has not been regulated nearly as strictly as content in the offline world — following a review conducted by Conservative peer Gabby Bertin.
For anyone who thought ministers had already drawn the line, it turns out there was still more to come. The latest move follows weeks of pressure behind the scenes and a growing push for tougher safeguards, with the issue becoming tied to the government’s wider pledge to reduce violence against women and girls.
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Under the new measures, pornography showing adults role-playing as children is set to be banned, along with depictions involving step or foster relations where one person is pretending to be under 18.
That means so-called ‘barely legal’ content will be targeted, as well as some step-incest material, in what could become one of the toughest crackdowns on online pornography in the world.
According to Sky News, it will become illegal to possess or publish this kind of content, with maximum prison sentences ranging from two to five years.
The UK government is also set to review how pornography sites verify the age and consent of people appearing in videos, including whether performers who initially agreed to take part should later be able to withdraw that consent through some kind of exit mechanism.
That part of the plan had not originally been backed by ministers, with the government reportedly concerned that some of the proposals would be difficult to enforce. However, after amendments in the House of Lords and the threat of a rebellion from female MPs, the tone appears to have shifted.
Sources told Sky News there had been weeks of constructive discussions, with ministers said to have ‘heard the voice of parliament’ and recognised ‘this was a political and moral issue’.
The changes are due to be debated in the Commons next week as part of the Crime and Policing Bill, and campaigners have welcomed the move as a major step forward.
Tracy Gilbert, Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, said the reforms are a ‘victory for the survivors who have bravely called for these reforms’ and ‘will help to meet’ the government’s promise on violence against women and girls.
Jess Asato, the Labour MP for Lowestoft, also said: “After many years of campaigning to ensure online pornographic content is subject to the same rules as offline content, I am delighted the government has announced these clear changes to our law.
“Step-incest pornography and that which depicts performers as children is abhorrent.”