By Lauren Agnew, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, CEASE
CEASE is really pleased to see the Government have taken onboard recommendations from Baroness Bertin’s Independent Pornography Review and tabled an amendment to the Crime and Policing bill which will give it the power to force pornography websites to verify the age and consent of everyone featured in the explicit material hosted.
That means, ensuring the person is an adult, and that they have consented for the video to be published- and crucially, that their consent can be withdrawn at any time.
CEASE have been actively campaigning for these protective checks to be put in place, alongside Barnardos and other partners within the Pornography Harms Coalition.
The Government is set to conduct a review, reporting within 12 months, to determine if and how the new powers will be used.
CEASE welcomes the Government taking steps to ensure these fundamental safeguards are in place. To date, a lack of these basic safeguards has led to the online proliferation of explicit content involving child abuse, sexual violence and trafficking victims.
This amendment is an encouraging step in the right direction – this win demonstrates a commitment from the Government to take seriously our recommendations, and follows amendments previously tabled by Jess Asato MP and Baroness Bertin during consideration of the bill.
With the Government’s new power, however, comes responsibility. These checks must be appropriately implemented and adequately enforced in order to be effective and to provide the protection needed.
CEASE will be continuing to engage with Government on any forthcoming review to ensure these powers are not just paying lip service to the issue- but instead, provide the impetus to hold online pornography websites to account.