Christian policy group, Christian Action, Research and Education (CARE), has expressed its approval of amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill that will result in stricter laws regarding online pornography to provide better protection for children and young people from online harms in the United Kingdom.
The amendments will place a ban on pornography involving incest or pornography that mimics child abuse, such as by including someone of legal age acting as a minor. They will also mandate the implementation of age and consent checks for everyone featured in pornographic content before it is uploaded, along with the right for that consent to be withdrawn at any point before or after upload.
In a statement, CARE commented that the amendments “are monumental steps forward in how online pornography is to be regulated.” The amendments were considered in the Commons before later returning to the Lords for Third Reading and Royal Assent ahead of the prorogation of Parliament at the end of April.
Director of Policy and Advocacy at CARE and former Member of Parliament Caroline Ansell revealed that the organisation has been campaigning for regulations on harmful online pornography since 1994, but was told that such content cannot be regulated and that its negative impact cannot be removed.
“What we have witnessed over the last few years are vital changes that will unquestionably make the internet a safer place for our children and young people. This Bill makes it a criminal offence to share the most harmful types of pornography and the Government have agreed to go further and ensure that online pornography will be regulated in the same way as offline content.” she said.
“For so long, we were told this could not be done. But today, a line is being drawn in the sand, and people are starting to see what we knew in 1994, online content that fuels the abuse and violent sexualisation of children and women should not be allowed.”
Ansell also urged Members of Parliament to support these amendments .”The fight does not stop here. We will continue to campaign for greater regulation of an industry that harms women and girls across the UK and I urge MPs to back these changes today in the Commons.”
The amendments to the crime and policing bill have been considered in the House of Commons. It should be returned to the Lords for Third Reading and Royal Ascent ahead of the prorogation of Parliament at the end of April.
