Possession and publication of pornographic material depicting choking now a crime in the UK
Because choking is a common form of domestic violence, pornography depicting such scenes could have harmful effects, and a bill has been introduced in the UK to make it illegal to possess or publish such content.
New laws to target online abuse and pornography - GOV.UK
Pornography depicting strangulation to become criminal offense in the UK | Pornography | The Guardian
An amendment to the Crime and Police Bill, introduced in Parliament in November 2025, would make it a crime to possess or publish pornographic material depicting 'choking' or 'suffocation,' and would impose obligations on platforms to prevent the spread of such images.
The move follows a study led by Baroness Bertin, a member of the House of Lords, which found that viewing such content could lead young people who do not yet understand the harm of choking to believe it is a normal part of sexual activity.
While sexual choking is thought to be pleasurable for the partner, it is in fact not a safe act, and even short periods of choking can cause changes in the brain due to oxygen deprivation. Several
Due to these dangers, and concerns that 'strangulation often allows perpetrators to get away with it because it leaves no visible marks,' the Domestic Violence Act 2021 will make strangulation a criminal offence even if it does not result in death.
The Institute For Addressing Strangulation (IFAS), an organization that researches choking during sexual activity, surveyed 4,175 British people aged 16 to 34 and found that more than half said they had been choked or had choked someone during sex, with the highest number of people aged 18 to 20.
The youngest age group surveyed was 16 to 17 years old. When limited to those who had sexual experience between the ages of 16 and 17, 43% had been strangled and 32% had strangled someone.
The law will restrict choking pornography and platforms will have to take reasonable steps to prevent users from viewing choking content, with failure to do so liable to fines of up to £18 million.
Bernie Ryan, Director of IFAS, said: 'Choking is a serious form of violence, often used in domestic violence situations to control, silence and intimidate. In pornography, especially when depicted out of context, it can be difficult for young people to judge what is appropriate and acceptable. We must recognise that unregulated online content poses serious risks, particularly to children.'
Another proposed amendment would extend the time given to victims whose photos have been sexually exploited to three years from six months, which is expected to make it easier for victims to come forward.
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