The UK House of Lords voted 144-143 on Thursday to ban pornography depicting sex acts between stepfamily members, passing by a single vote. The measure was pushed by Conservative peer Gabby Bertin, who argued the content "normalises child sexual abuse and abusive relationships within families."
The ban covers incest between biological relatives and sex between step or foster relations where one participant pretends to be under 18. Publication carries a maximum of 2 to 5 years imprisonment depending on severity. Some government ministers opposed the amendment because, under English and Welsh law, step-related adults can legally have a sexual relationship — the ban makes it illegal to film something that isn't illegal to do.
The vote came bundled with a separate amendment holding senior tech executives personally liable if their platforms fail to remove non-consensual intimate images — so-called revenge porn. Sites would have 48 hours to take content down after being notified. Senior executives at companies that don't comply could face fines, imprisonment, or both. Technology secretary Liz Kendall said protecting women and girls online "is not optional." Minister Alex Davies-Jones said tackling violence against women and girls "will take every single one of us."
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