Britain Seeks to Ban Violent Internet Porn

[DemsUnite]

Ever since Jane Longhurst was killed two years ago by a man obsessed with violent Internet pornography, her family has campaigned for the British government to outlaw the viewing of extreme sexual material on the Web. On Tuesday the government agreed, announcing plans — the first, it said, by any Western country — to ban the downloading and possession of violent sexual images.

Police and anti-porn campaigners welcomed the proposal but free-speech groups called it censorship, saying there was no proven link between violent imagery and violent behavior.

Home Office Minister Paul Goggins said the government felt a duty to prevent cases such as the murder of Longhurst, a 31-year-old teacher strangled by a friend who was obsessed with violent pornography he found on the Internet.

"This is material which is extremely offensive to the vast majority of people, and it should have no place in our society," Goggins said.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050830/ap_on_hi_te/britain_internet_porn;_ylt=AsNjykenKxF.ZKkirB_KCqSs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-

[tjwmason]

1. I want to know exactly where they're going to draw the line.

Some of the descriptions which have appeared in papers are truly grotesque - but will it include all forms of SM porn?

[Taxloss]

5. That line is going to be near impossible to draw.

Any form of violence that some viewers derive sexual satisfaction from? You could call that "any form of violence", so all violence is out, such as, say, Mr Gibson's Passion. This is a bloody minefield.

[ikri]

8. It'll be confusing for sure

If it does cover all forms of S&M porn I can't see how it would ever stand up to judicial scrutiny.

I remember a case a few years ago here where 2 couples into S&M were freed from jail when the appeals judge (correctly) ruled that what consenting adults did in their own bedrooms was their own business.

We're going to end up with a bizarre law where it is perfectly legal to staple your partner's genitals to a plank of wood (if you're both consenting adults & get a kick out of such things), but you could be sent to jail for 3 years for daring to own a picture of the same act.

:shrug:

[jmatthan]

2. Reason may have an ulterior motive

British (& US) forces may have been involved with some grotesque porn which may find its way onto the internet.

(Remember the horror thread which was killed double quick on DU Forum yesterday?)

This appears to be to prevent that occurring!!

Jacob Matthan
http://jmpolitics.blogspot.com
Oulu, Finland

[wli]

3. yep, all part of the Abu Ghraib etc. coverup n/t

[Henny Penny]

4. it also serves the useful purpose of associating the terms

violent porn and Internet very closely in the minds of the great unwashed. Many of whom have already been led to believe that the Internet is primarily used by criminals to steal your cash, your identity or your kids.

[Endangered Specie]

6. heh, British porn ain't that good anyhow.

O8)

[tjwmason]

7. I'm just shocked that you'd know that

It isn't about British porn - it's already illegal to make the violent stuff here, and to host it on a U.K. site, it's about folk in the U.K. downloading it from abroad.