It seems in the UK that sex is best performed under the covers, in missionary position, with your socks on. Or at least that’s what The Audiovisual Media Services Regulations 2014, which came into force on December 1st, would like.

New regulations now apply to producers of pornography, including Video on Demand, specifying that a wide range of bedroom activities cannot be depicted. They focus largely on BDSM, but already they’re being criticised widely for also banning some things showing females enjoying themselves. For example, it’s still OK to show males ejaculating, but you can’t show a woman “squirting”. Face sitting, a common technique by female Dommes in femdom to show their power, is also considered too dangerous to show on screen.

It’s not illegal to watch these things if you’re in the UK, but it is illegal to produce video/VoD content that includes them.

Broadly, the legislation bans:
• Portraying non-consent
• Sadomasochism that goes “beyond the trifling and transcient”
• Bondage where it’s not obvious how consent can be withdrawn
• Torture with instruments
• Activities involving “perversion and degradation” (watersports, vomiting, scat)
• Fisting

So, what specifically is being censored?

BDSM Pain play

The criteria the board will use for censorship is that “if copied by the uninitiated the act would have the potential to cause injuries more than transient and trifling”. Under this definition, “moderate” pain play is acceptable, so there can be reddening of the skin, but no raised welts, blood and bruising.

Ballbusting and trampling come under this category and are OK as long as they are moderate. That means a gentle stretch of the balls is OK, but yanking them hard is not.

Spanking beyond a “gentle level” continues to be banned.

Bondage and Restraint

The new legal requirement is that there needs to be an obvious way to withdraw consent (eg by using a safeword). That means that videos might get a lot more dialogue and storyline as film-makers try to make safety explicit.

Under this criteria, full bondage in conjunction with a gag would be unacceptable, because there is no obvious (to the viewer) means to signal to stop. A gag would be OK if a limb was free though. Or full bondage would be OK without the gag.

Simulated Rape Scenes and Weapons

If it looks like it could be a non-consensual activity then it is not acceptable. If it’s totally unbelievable (for example a science fiction epic) then it’s fine.

Strangely, the board specifically singled out power tools (the type found in an average home) and has banned these being shown used in any way. They obviously think that home handymen will start getting evil ideas. Fucking machines are OK though.

Fisting and Inserting Objects

Vaginal or anal penetration with all five fingers beyond last knuckle is not acceptable; though you can use both hands as long as you don’t go past the last knuckle.

Buttplugs and dildos are OK, but putting an object like a mobile phone in your ass is not. The status of fruit and vegetables is unclear.

Watersports (Drinking)

Pee is OK if it’s part of a larger scene, but it can’t be onto a body and it can’t be drunk or licked up. If it’s a catheter scene, and the catheter tube is connected to the mouth, it’s OK as long as the tube is not transparent so that liquids can’t be seen.

Enemas

Enemas are acceptable if once they are squirted out they don’t hit anyone else and don’t contain faeces. No licking it up, that’s banned.

Vomiting

Accidental vomiting might be acceptable, but only if it is not performed as part of a sexual act and it’s not visibly enjoyed by the participants.

Age Play

Anything which might ‘encourage’ incest or sex with children under the age of eighteen is definitely unacceptable. However, school uniforms are acceptable as long as no-one actually says or suggests they are under 18 in the dialogue, and participants are clearly over 18 and participating in a consensual adult role play

Breath Play and Choking/Gagging (including face sitting and head scissoring)

Airways must remain clear and open. Any form of smothering, face reddening or choking sounds is banned. Face sitting without breathing restriction, and head scissoring which doesn’t press on the carotid artery, is still probably OK.

Gagging on cock and deep throat are acceptable, but you can’t say things like ‘gag on my cock’ because that implies choking.

Wrestling

Wrestling is OK, but knockout moves are strictly banned.

Medical Scenes

As long as the video show that appropriate safety measures such as sterility, lubricant and gloves are used, the insertion of urethral sounds is acceptable as long as they do not go deep enough to enter the bladder. Needle play is likely to also be acceptable as it’s a temporary “injury” commonly experienced (tattooing etc).

FURTHER READING

• Vice Magazine – British BDSM Enthusiasts, Say Goodbye to Your Favourite Homegrown Porn
• Obscenity Lawyer – The Following Content is Not Acceptable
• The Independant – UK Porn Legislation – What is Now Banned Under New Government Laws