The UK government has agreed to ban the production of pornography depicting sex acts between stepfamily members, following a narrow vote in the House of Lords. The amendment, which passed by 144 votes to 143, was tabled by the government with support from Conservative peer Gabby Bertin, who led a review into pornography regulation last year.
The ban targets harmful content, including incest, step-incest, and material mimicking child sexual abuse. Once enacted, possession or publication of such pornography will be criminalised, with penalties ranging from two to five years' imprisonment for publication, depending on severity. Some ministers had opposed the amendment, arguing it would be difficult to implement since sexual relationships between step-adults are not illegal in England and Wales.
Lady Bertin welcomed the move, stating: 'This content that is freely and widely available online is deeply harmful, normalising child sexual abuse and abusive relationships within families.' Alex Davies-Jones, minister for victims and tackling violence against girls, added: 'We have been clear that vile online pornography has real-life consequences.'
The ban coincides with plans to hold tech bosses personally accountable if their platforms fail to remove non-consensual intimate images, often called 'revenge porn'. Under an amendment to the crime and policing bill, senior executives could face fines or imprisonment if they do not act without good cause after being made aware of such material.
