The government has decided to prohibit the creation of pornography that portrays sexual activities between stepfamily members, following a vote in the House of Lords.
This prohibition originated from an amendment proposed by Conservative peer Gabby Bertin, who previously conducted a review on pornography regulations that was published last year. The amendment aimed to include step-incest in the list of harmful content that should be banned.
This new regulation is part of a broader set of proposals by the government, which also includes the criminalization of material showing women being choked, enacted last year.
Some government officials expressed concerns regarding the amendment, arguing that enforcing the new ban could be challenging, as current laws in England and Wales do not make it illegal for adults related by marriage to engage in sexual relationships.
After the ban was established on Friday, Lady Bertin commented: “I am very pleased with the government’s commitment to tackle harmful pornographic material, which includes incest, step-incest, and the portrayal of child sexual abuse.”
She further emphasized that such content, which is easily accessible online, poses serious risks as it normalizes abusive relationships and child sexual abuse. “Today, the government has responded to our demands for change, and I am thrilled that the UK is once again at the forefront of regulating this harmful industry,” she stated.
Lady Bertin’s amendment passed with a narrow margin, receiving 144 votes in favor and 143 against. Once implemented, the law will penalize anyone found in possession of or distributing pornography depicting incest or sexual acts between step- or foster relatives, particularly where one participant is pretending to be underage. Offenders could face a prison sentence ranging from two to five years, depending on the content’s severity.
Alex Davies-Jones, the minister responsible for victims and addressing violence against girls, remarked, “I have unfortunately encountered far too many heartbreaking accounts from victims, and I recognize the urgency for change.”
She added, “Achieving the goal of reducing violence against women and girls within a decade requires collective effort. We have made it clear that abhorrent online pornography has real-world implications for everyone, and I want to express my gratitude to the courageous advocates who have collaborated with us to bring about this important change.”
Davies-Jones further emphasized, “Today, we are sending a strong message: we will eradicate misogynistic and harmful online content and strive for a safer environment for all.”
These new bans coincide with the government’s plan to propose an amendment to the crime and policing bill. This amendment would hold technology executives personally liable if their platforms fail to remove intimate images uploaded without consent, commonly referred to as “revenge porn.”
Under this proposed amendment, tech leaders who are informed of non-consensual sexual material on their sites could face significant fines, imprisonment, or both if they do not take appropriate action to remove the content without justifiable cause.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stated, “Too many women have had their lives devastated by the unauthorized sharing of their intimate images online. This government is unwavering in its commitment to safeguard women and girls online, and we are taking decisive steps to prevent tech companies from disseminating this abusive material.”
She added, “In February, we instructed platforms to eliminate reported non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours. Now, we are advancing further by implementing measures that could make senior tech executives criminally liable if their companies fail to act as mandated by Ofcom.”
Kendall concluded, “The protection of women and girls online is not negotiable; it is a fundamental responsibility of every tech company’s leadership.”
