On 18 June 2025 in a debate of the Crime and Policing Bill in the House of Commons, Labour MP, Jess Asato, delivered a speech calling for urgent action to regulate violent online pornography, including a ban on sexual strangulation, one of the most frequently shown acts across mainstream sites.
“Women and girls are paying the price of both an industry that seeks to profit from the most violent kinds of content and laws that are not fit for purpose” Asato told MPs.
She also cited CEASE’s finding that a simple search for “choke her” returns 30 million videos. Far from being fantasy, she argued, this content contributes directly to real-world harm against women and girls.
Head of Policy and Public Affairs for CEASE, Gemma Kelly, said: “At CEASE, we are proud to stand with Jess, Professor Clare McGlynn KC, and our allies at UK Feminista and CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) in calling for stronger legislation to protect women, girls, and young people online.
“We also extend our thanks to Baroness Gabby Bertin for her detailed and vital review into the individual and cultural harms of the pornography industry, which has been pivotal in guiding this reform.
“We welcome the Government’s leadership in committing to introduce an amendment on sexual strangulation in pornography when the Crime and Policing Bill reaches the House of Lords. This is a crucial and commendable step, one that signals a serious commitment to tackling the root causes of violence against women and girls online.
This is a key moment and a testament to what’s possible when we work together for change.