The Government has introduced stringent amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, targeting online abuse of women and girls with severe penalties for non-compliance. Senior managers at pornography companies and tech platforms now face potential prison sentences if they fail to adhere to enforcement orders from Ofcom regarding the removal of intimate images shared without consent.
Criminal Liability for Tech Executives
Under the new provisions, top executives could be held personally criminally liable when their platforms do not comply with Ofcom's directives to take down vile non-consensual images. This offence, committed without a reasonable excuse, may result in imprisonment, fines, or both, marking a significant escalation in accountability for online content.
Ban on Harmful Pornographic Content
The amendments also criminalise pornography depicting incest between family members and content involving step or foster relations where one participant pretends to be under 18. Additionally, the publication and possession of pornography where adults roleplay as children will be outlawed, with publication offences carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Government and Expert Statements
Home Office Minister Jess Phillips emphasised the devastating impact of such images, stating that tech firms and abusers have profited while women suffer. She declared, "This is sexual abuse. It is violence against women and girls. And it is happening online at industrial scale."
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall reinforced the Government's commitment, noting that platforms must remove reported non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours, with new measures ensuring senior executives face criminal liability for inaction. "Protecting women and girls online is not optional," she asserted.
Support from Independent Review
Baroness Bertin, Lead reviewer of the Independent Pornography Review, welcomed the plans, highlighting the harm caused by freely available content that normalises child sexual abuse and abusive family relationships. She praised the Government's efforts to address these issues comprehensively.
This crackdown represents a major shift in online regulation, aiming to hold tech leadership accountable and protect vulnerable individuals from digital exploitation.
