Particle.news
Download on the App Store

UK Actors Vote Overwhelmingly to Refuse On-Set Digital Scans in AI Safeguards Push

Equity will use the nonbinding result to press Pact for explicit AI protections in upcoming talks.

Overview

  • About 7,000 film and TV performers took part with 75% turnout and roughly 99% voting yes, including Harriet Walter, Hugh Bonneville, and Adrian Lester.
  • The ballot is indicative and does not legally authorize industrial action, with Equity saying a statutory ballot would be required if negotiations fail.
  • Equity plans to resume talks with Pact in January after 18 months without agreement, seeking explicit AI clauses where current Pact-Equity deals have none.
  • Pact says most productions do not scan cast, that scanning has long supported SFX with cast informed and data handled under legal rules, and that it offered AI terms in line with other countries.
  • Equity warns scans could be repurposed to train AI without consent, says there is no evidence this is happening now, and points to background artists as particularly exposed.