Starting 6 November 2026, the new rules under the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will make it illegal to keep or share certain pornographic material showing strangulation, suffocation, incest-related scenarios and adults pretending to be children under 16.
The government says the changes aim to stop the spread of content that could make dangerous behaviour seem normal, particularly violence against women and girls. However, the inclusion of fictional family relationships has raised questions about why some sexual content is being banned while certain real-life family relationships remain legal.
What Exactly Is Being Banned?
Under the new rules, it will be illegal to keep or share pornographic images that clearly show someone strangling or suffocating another person. The ban also covers sexual images showing people who are closely related or pretending to be family members. This includes parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, siblings, half-siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
The rules also apply to certain step-family and foster-family situations, such as step-parents, step-children, step-siblings, foster parents and foster children, when one person is or is pretending to be under 18. Another banned category involves adults pretending to be children under 16 during sexual activity.
However, this does not mean every fictional story or sexual scenario involving family members is automatically illegal. The law only covers specific relationships and images that meet certain requirements.
So, Why Is Cousin Marriage Still Legal?
Here is where the apparent contradiction gets people talking. One Reddit user summed up the confusion, writing: 'While it's not my thing but banning 'step-sister' porn while first cousin marriage is still legal in this country...'
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In England and Wales, first cousins can legally get married because they are not included in the list of relatives who are banned from marrying. The new pornography law also does not specifically include cousins in its list of prohibited family relationships.
Why Is the Government Introducing the Ban?
The new rules come after the Independent Pornography Review, led by Baroness Gabby Bertin and published in February 2025. The review raised concerns about the growing amount of violent and extreme pornography available online, especially videos showing strangulation.
It warned that regularly watching this type of content could affect how people view sex and make dangerous behaviour seem normal. The government also raised concerns about adults pretending to be children in sexual videos, saying this could make child sexual abuse seem more acceptable.
Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones has defended the new rules, saying pornography can influence how people, especially young audiences, understand healthy relationships. The government says the aim is not to punish people for harmless sexual interests but to stop the spread of content it considers harmful.
What Happens if Someone Keeps the Content?
The new rules apply to both keeping and sharing these images. This means people who make or upload pornography are not the only ones affected. Anyone who saves these images on their phone, computer or online storage could also face legal trouble.
According to the government, keeping images showing strangulation, suffocation or certain incest-related scenes could lead to up to two years in prison. Keeping pornography showing sexual activity involving someone who appears to be or is pretending to be under 16 could lead to up to three years in prison.
Those who publish or share the banned material could face up to five years in prison. The government has also advised people who have these images saved on their devices to delete them before the new rules take effect.
