Ministers are urged to address the unregulated landscape of online pornography, which facilitates the exploitation of trafficked women on camera, as activists caution before a crucial parliamentary debate.
A proposal to enforce hefty fines and imprisonment for platforms sharing explicit videos without verifying the age and consent of all individuals featured will be put forward to Members of Parliament. If approved, websites could face fines up to £18 million or 10% of their revenue.
An addition to the Crime and Policing Bill seeks to grant individuals in videos the right to retract their consent, compelling platforms to remove content within 24 hours.
This move follows the House of Lords’ support for stricter measures proposed by Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, highlighting the prevalence of child abuse, sexual violence, and trafficking victims on mainstream pornographic websites.
Naomi Miles, the founder of the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation (CEASE), emphasized that many viewers are unaware of the exploitation underlying the videos they consume. She stressed the importance of considering the humanity and well-being of those depicted in the content.
The government reiterated its stance against the dissemination of child sexual abuse and non-consensual intimate material, but advocates like Ms. Miles argue for enhanced regulations to prevent the upload of abusive and illegal content due to the lack of oversight in the current system.
Labour MP Jess Asato, vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Commercial Sexual Exploitation, urged lawmakers to support the proposed amendment, calling for stringent measures to prohibit harmful content, including depictions of step-incest.
Baroness Bertin insisted on mandatory age and consent verification checks for individuals in online pornography, emphasizing the need to prioritize the safety of women and children in the industry.
The government acknowledged the concerns raised by Baroness Bertin and assured collaboration with her and other officials to address the issue, emphasizing their commitment to combatting harmful pornography to reduce violence against women and girls.
Under the existing Online Safety Act, pornography platforms are mandated to implement effective age verification processes to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate content. Failure to comply may result in regulatory action by Ofcom.
