Ask your MP to support age and consent checks for online pornography

The online pornography industry remains one of the least regulated sectors, despite clear evidence of harm. Major platforms are not required to verify the age or consent of those featured in the content they host, leaving children, victims of trafficking, and vulnerable individuals at risk of serious exploitation.

Baroness Bertin’s Independent Pornography Review recognised this gap and recommended a simple, workable solution: require pornography websites to check that all individuals featured are adults and have given their consent, and ensure that consent can be withdrawn.

These are basic safeguards that would help prevent abuse before it happens, rather than relying on victims to report harm after the fact. They would also give those who have been exploited, or who later regret their involvement, a meaningful way to regain control over material featuring them.

The House of Lords has already shown strong support for these measures. The Government must now act.

Write to your MP today and urge them to support age and consent checks for online pornography, and to ensure these essential protections are brought into law without delay.