Tech
In the UK, Face Sitting Porn Might Land You in Jail
Publication: 404 Media
Author: Samantha Cole
Source published: 05/11/2026, 17:09:04 UTC
Briefing created: 05/11/2026, 17:50:27 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 05/11/2026, 17:13:23 UTC.
Briefings
A UK law effective November 6 criminalizes possession and publication of pornography depicting strangulation, suffocation, or penetrative sexual activity between relatives or involving individuals under 16, with penalties up to five years imprisonment. Sex worker Melissa Todd stated she enjoys breath play and waterboarding, which the law now criminalizes. Content platforms like iWantClips have been forced to remove specific genres including face sitting and 'smothering' acts. The law's vague definitions regarding 'reasonable person' perception and 'realistic' depiction have led to significant censorship of adult content, including previously protected works by independent creators.
Key points
- Starting November 6, 2026, UK law criminalizes possession and publication of pornography depicting strangulation, suffocation, or penetrative sexual activity between relatives or involving individuals under 16, with penalties up to five years imprisonment.
- Sex worker Melissa Todd stated she enjoys breath play and waterboarding, which the law now criminalizes, and confirmed that platforms like iWantClips must remove specific genres including face sitting and 'smothering' acts.
Context
The law, part of the Crime and Policing Act, criminalizes acts including choking and incest roleplay porn. It applies to England and Wales and defines criminal offenses based on whether content appears 'realistic' to a reasonable person or involves individuals under 16. The law was updated to take effect on November 6, 2026, following a parliamentary review.
Limitations
Evidence covers only UK law and specific acts like strangulation and suffocation; definitions of 'realistic' and 'reasonable person' perception are vague, leading to potential censorship. Platform bans are reported but not universally confirmed. No data on enforcement rates, specific case outcomes, or regional variations in application is provided.
Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 05/11/2026, 17:50:27 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.
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