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All the types of pornography Labour will ban from Friday – full list with 3 years prison
From 6 November, possessing or distributing certain types of pornography will become a criminal offence under new UK rules. The Government says the changes are intended to protect women and girls by restricting content it considers harmful and potentially influential, particularly for young people.
The ban covers pornography depicting strangulation or suffocation, sexual activity between certain relatives, and adults roleplaying as children under 16. Possession of material showing strangulation, suffocation or sex between relatives can carry up to two years in prison; possessing or distributing material depicting someone pretending to be under 16 can carry up to three years. The proposals were recommended in a 2025 review by Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin and have cross-party support.
In short
- New pornography offences take effect on 6 November.
- Three categories of content are covered.
- The maximum prison term is three years.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that restricting these depictions can help protect women and young people from material that may normalise coercion, violence or sexualisation of children. They see criminal penalties as a proportionate way to limit access to content they judge especially harmful, while reinforcing safeguards around sexual exploitation.
The case against
Critics may argue that criminalising possession of depictions, including fictional roleplay between adults, risks extending the law beyond abuse or exploitation and into expression that does not itself harm another person. They may also question whether the restrictions will reduce real-world harm, while warning that broad or uncertain definitions could chill lawful sexual expression and give the state too much discretion over private material.