Australian teenager's death renews calls to ban choking depictions in porn

The short version

• Australian officials are weighing bans on pornographic depictions of choking following the death of a 16-year-old girl in Sydney.[Wired]
• Health researchers emphasize that erotic strangulation carries severe risks of stroke, brain damage, and death.[Wired]
• Adult entertainment representatives contend that prohibition will fail to curb the material and urge sex education instead.[Wired]
• The United Kingdom previously banned strangulation depictions under its Online Safety Act, though enforcement has not yet started.[Wired]

Key facts

• A 16-year-old girl in Sydney died after passing out during suspected sexual strangulation by her partner.[Wired]
• Australia's Social Services Minister confirmed the government is seriously reviewing efforts to prohibit pornographic depictions of choking.[Wired]
• A 2021 study revealed that 58 percent of surveyed US college women had experienced sexual choking, with one-quarter first choked by age 17.[Wired]
• Pressure applied to the throat during sex poses dangers including arterial tears, stroke, cognitive damage, and death.[Wired]
• The United Kingdom banned depictions of sexual strangulation in its Online Safety Act, but the measure remains unenforced.[Wired]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• A Teen Girl’s Death Is Prompting Calls to Ban Choking in PornWired metered