Ministers are facing urgent calls to impose stringent new regulations on online pornography platforms, described as a "Wild West" where trafficked and exploited women are abused on camera. Campaigners are demanding that MPs support amendments to the Government's landmark Crime and Policing Bill, which would hit sites with massive fines and potential jail terms if they share explicit videos without verifying that every performer is a consenting adult over 18.
Proposed Penalties and Safeguards
Under the proposed amendments, pornography platforms could face penalties of up to £18 million or 10% of their revenue for non-compliance. Additionally, the amendments call for a legal right for individuals appearing in videos to withdraw their consent, forcing sites to remove footage within 24 hours. This move follows backing from the House of Lords for an amendment by Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, which aims to introduce tougher safeguards against abuse.
Campaigners Highlight Hidden Abuse
Naomi Miles, founder of the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation (CEASE), warned that many users are unaware of the underlying abuse in the videos they watch. She explained that viewers often treat the content as mere entertainment, without considering the humanity of those involved. "It's very difficult to tell just by looking at a piece of footage if it's real or if it's being acted by consenting adults," Miles said. She emphasized that without verification mechanisms, there is no certainty that performers consented or are happy with their footage being shared globally.
Miles detailed the devastating impact on victims, stating, "The devastating effect it has on those who were raped or abused or trafficked into the industry, it's very difficult to overstate how damaging it is on an ongoing basis. It's like a living nightmare for them, knowing the footage might resurface at any point." She also noted that many individuals enter the industry under coercive pressures, only recognizing the abuse years later.
Current Regulatory Gaps
While the Government asserts that sharing child sexual abuse material and non-consensual intimate images is already illegal, campaigners argue that existing safeguards are insufficient. Miles pointed out that the lack of regulation allows user-generated videos to be uploaded with minimal checks, making it easy for abusive and illegal content to proliferate. She called for strengthened measures to ensure accountability and protection for vulnerable individuals.
Political Support for Change
Labour MP Jess Asato, vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Commercial Sexual Exploitation, urged MPs to back the amendment. She also advocated for outlawing depictions of step-incest, where scenarios involve older adults having sex with their stepchildren. "No right-thinking member of the public will understand why step-incest content or pornography which clearly portrays performers as children is allowed to be uploaded online," Asato said. She stressed the need for age verification to prevent child sexual abuse material from being shared on porn platforms.
Baroness Bertin echoed these sentiments, stating, "Making age and consent checks a mandatory safeguard for those featured in online pornography is the lowest possible ask of the pornography industry. It is the rock bottom of regulation. The Government must ensure that they are putting the safety of women and children first and foremost."
Government Response
A government source indicated that the Government shares Baroness Bertin's concerns and is collaborating with her and other MPs and peers. A spokesperson reiterated the commitment to tackling dangerous and degrading pornography as part of a broader mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade. The spokesperson highlighted that under the Online Safety Act, services must prevent illegal content from appearing and remove it when identified, with all pornography sites required to use effective age-assurance measures to protect children.
Ofcom has the Government's full backing to pursue any site that fails to comply with these regulations, underscoring the ongoing efforts to address exploitation in the digital age.
