The British government decided to criminalize the possession of images depicting sexual violence, according to the BBC. The main target is digital imagery, shared through the internet.
The argument relies on casuality, traditionally. According to the leading campaigner, whose daughter was murder by a man who also stored violent porn on his computer, the problem in question concerns
"these horrific internet sites, which can have such a corrupting influence and glorify extreme sexual violence."
As an MP explains,
"sickening internet images... can so easily send vulnerable people over the edge."
Note that this extends a current British policy:
It is already a crime to make or publish such images but proposed legislation will outlaw possession of images
The evil internet, the scary network of dubious casuality: these fears become policy, once again.
EDITED TO ADD: BoingBoing posts a corrective email, noting that Parliament isn't in session, so can't pass a law to this effect. Excellent!
The point about discourse remains.
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