The BBFC writes: The BBFC can reveal that 1 in 3 adult pornography users have been exposed to violent or abusive content online in the last three months. In a survey of 2,021 adults who had accessed pornography online, over half (58%)
expressed concern about the levels of violence or abuse depicted.
The research provides the most up-to-date insight into the types of violent and abusive content pornography users are exposed to online in the UK. The concerning
findings come just four months after the Government published the Independent Pornography Review . The Review, led by Baroness Bertin, recommends parity between how pornography is regulated online and offline.
Offline, the BBFC
has had statutory responsibility for classifying pornographic material released on physical formats (such as VHS, DVD and Blu-ray) for 40 years under the Video Recordings Act 1984 (VRA). The BBFC supports adults right to choose their own entertainment so
long as it is legal and non-harmful. The BBFC will not classify any content that is in breach of the criminal law nor any material that might cause harm -- for example by encouraging dangerous emulation or unhealthy fantasies relating to violence,
sadism, abuse and non-consensual behaviour. It is a criminal offence under the VRA to distribute a pornographic video work that has not been classified by the BBFC. However, the BBFC has no statutory role online.
The research
shows that, in the past three months, users had been exposed to online content depicting physical violence, non-consensual activity, incest, and adults role-playing as children. Such content may cause harm by promoting an interest in sexually abusive
relationships or in activity (such as strangulation) that can lead to serious physical harm. As such, it would be refused classification by the BBFC and would therefore be illegal to supply or distribute offline (on DVD or Blu-Ray). Of those exposed to
these types of content, users were most concerned (67%) by material depicting adults role-playing as children.
Users most often reported having seen depictions of physical violence (19%), such as strangulation, with 62% of all
respondents thinking that depictions of physical violence are normalised in online pornography. 64% of those surveyed agreed that violent or abusive pornography is contributing to the normalisation of violent sexual behaviour in the real world.
Whilst the Online Safety Act requires providers of online services to remove illegal content -- such as child sexual abuse material or extreme pornography -- it does not address all material that would be refused a BBFC classification
for distribution offline. This means that harmful depictions of non-consensual, violent, abusive and degrading activity remain available to UK users.
Despite variation in individual exposure and concern of the respondents, a large
majority would back regulation, with 80% of adult users supporting new rules to prevent online platforms from publishing or distributing pornography that depicts violence or abuse and 88% indicating they are in favour of new regulation to verify that all
individuals shown are consenting adults.
Today, the BBFC joins the first meeting of the Independent Pornography Review Taskforce. The Taskforce has been established by Baroness Bertin and will bring together politicians,
campaigners, police, charities and organisations who are invested in making the online world a safer place. Todays meeting, chaired by Baroness Bertin and co-hosted by the BBFC, will take the form of a roundtable discussion to which other key figures
have been invited to contribute.
During the roundtable, the BBFC will welcome the Government's recent pledge to criminalise pornography depicting strangulation. The BBFC remains fully committed to supporting the Government with
the implementation of Baroness Bertins recommendations, to ensure parity between online and offline regulation, including by bringing our unparalleled expertise to take on a formal role auditing online pornography.
President of
the British Board of Film Classification, Natasha Kaplinsky OBE said:
The BBFC has long been concerned about the increasingly violent and abusive pornography so easily accessible online. Our findings that 1 in 3 adult
pornography users have been exposed to such content in the last three months is shocking, but sadly it is not surprising.
Parity on and offline is paramount and our research suggests that there is broad support among pornography
users in the UK for aligning the regulation of online pornography with the standards already applied offline. Whats illegal to distribute offline, should be illegal to distribute online.
We stand ready to better protect audiences
online by taking on the formal role of auditing online pornography as recommended in the Independent Pornography Review, which would be a natural extension of the role we have fulfilled offline for decades.
Baroness
Bertin, Lead Reviewer of the Independent Pornography Review said:
This BBFC research shows a clear path for regulating online pornography. The industry has faced virtually no scrutiny, despite widespread concerns about
violence, misogyny, and content involving unclear age of performers or consent.
The Governments recent announcement to ban pornographic content depicting strangulation and suffocation is a welcome and significant step. It shows
ministers are beginning to listen to growing concern about the harms caused by violent online pornography. But any law change could be ineffective if there isn't a regulatory body that will proactively assess whether standards are being met, and the law
is being enforced. The BBFC stepping up to audit content and expedite reports of non compliance is a vital move the Government should back.
