LONDON—The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) announced Monday how the organization wishes to expand its jurisdiction over monitoring and issuing ratings for online pornography, including feature films and other premium content across the internet. Such an idea comes straight out of the recommendations of the United Kingdom government's so-called "Independent Pornography Review," which was led by the Baroness Gabby Bertin, a Conservative Party (Tory) peer seated within the House of Lords.
The review strongly recommends parity between how pornography is regulated online and offline. AVN has reported on the review extensively, including recommendations to prohibit pornography that was at one point classified as "legal but harmful." An announcement last week indicated that Parliament is poised to outlaw consensual choking porn online.
Historically, the BBFC holds authority to rate and review pornography that is sold through DVDs, VHS and other physical formats. Under the Video Recordings Act of 1984, the United Kingdom Parliament gave the BBFC wide statutory power to classify pornographic material released in physical formats.
"The BBFC supports adults’ right to choose their own entertainment so long as it is legal and non-harmful," says the board. "The BBFC will not classify any content that is in breach of the criminal law nor any material that might cause harm—for example by encouraging dangerous emulation or unhealthy fantasies relating to violence, sadism, abuse and non-consensual behaviour. It is a criminal offence under the VRA to distribute a pornographic video work that has not been classified by the BBFC."
BBFC lacks the authority, including the investigation of criminal violations and other offenses, to do this for online pornography material. The board seeks out the expanded authority, including recommendations made by Lady Bertin in the Independent Porn Review.
"We stand ready to better protect audiences online by taking on the formal role of auditing online pornography as recommended in the Independent Pornography Review, which would be a natural extension of the role we have fulfilled offline for decades," asserted Natasha Kaplinsky, president of the BBFC, via a press release.
In the same press release, the BBFC announced the findings of research related to adult pornography users.
BBFC found that one in three online pornography users were exposed to what the organization classifies as "violent or abusive content online in the last three months."
Eighty percent of those users surveyed claim to support new laws that prevent the publication of "violent or abusive pornography online." Bertin, applauding the concept of the board taking on the rating authority, explained, "The BBFC stepping up to audit content and expedite reports of non compliance is a vital move the government should back.”
