Nearly 1,500 actors in the United Kingdom have issued a stark warning to Pact, the trade body representing the majority of UK film and television production companies, stating they will not endorse any new labor agreement that fails to provide robust protections against the unauthorized use of Artificial Intelligence.
An open letter, signed by 1,472 performers, underscores mounting anxieties within the industry regarding the slow progress in securing clear AI safeguards for actors. This collective action coincides with critical ongoing negotiations between Equity, the performers’ union, and Pact for a revised agreement that will establish minimum pay rates, terms, and conditions for performers across film and television productions, including those commissioned by major streaming platforms such as Apple, Netflix, and Disney Plus.
The Actors’ Unwavering Demand
The signatories to the open letter represent a significant portion of the UK acting community and have conveyed their position unequivocally. They have stated, emphatically, that they “will not accept any deal” put forward by Pact if it does not incorporate essential protections concerning AI technologies. The letter counts among its signatories well-known figures in the industry, including Tamsin Greig, Alan Davies, Emma D’Arcy, Nicola Walker, and Wilf Scolding, highlighting the broad base of support for this demand.
Their collective voice adds considerable weight to Equity’s negotiating stance, signaling a united front among performers determined to protect their rights and livelihoods in the face of rapidly evolving AI capabilities.
Context of Protracted Negotiations
The current negotiations for a new Equity-Pact agreement are critical, aiming to update terms that govern a wide range of productions. Equity originally submitted its comprehensive claim for this new agreement over a year ago, outlining its proposals for updated working conditions, remuneration, and, crucially, terms related to emerging technologies like AI.
However, according to sources familiar with the situation, Pact has yet to present a formal counterproposal specifically addressing the AI protection aspects of Equity’s claim. This perceived lack of progress on a matter deemed vital by performers is understood to be a primary driver behind the actors’ decision to issue their public letter.
The agreement under discussion is particularly significant as it will set the benchmarks for contracts used by high-profile streamers commissioning content in the UK, potentially impacting a vast array of productions and performers working on platforms that are increasingly reliant on digital technologies.
Deepening Concerns Over AI Use on Set
The core concerns articulated in the actors’ letter delve into specific, potentially exploitative, practices already occurring within the industry. It highlights distressing accounts where thousands of performers working on Pact-Equity productions have reportedly been digitally scanned on set without adequate informed consent.
Furthermore, the letter expresses alarm over a pervasive lack of transparency regarding how performers’ work, likeness, and personal data are subsequently recorded, stored, and processed after these digital scans or captures occur. The actors fear that without explicit contractual safeguards, these digital assets could be used or manipulated by AI tools in ways that could undermine their control over their own image and future employment opportunities.
The potential implications range from the creation of “digital doubles” that could be used in productions without the original performer’s further involvement or compensation, to the training of AI systems on performers’ unique characteristics and styles, raising profound questions about intellectual property and the future value of human performance.
The Path Forward and Key Meeting
The timing of the actors’ letter is particularly significant, coinciding with a scheduled meeting between Equity officials and representatives from Pact specifically dedicated to the discussion of AI protections. This crucial session is set to take place on Wednesday, June 25.
The performers’ open letter serves as a powerful statement ahead of this meeting, reinforcing the urgency and non-negotiable nature of their demands regarding AI safeguards. It places additional pressure on Pact to engage constructively on this issue and recognize the depth of concern felt by the talent upon which the industry relies.
Industry observers suggest that the outcome of this meeting, and the subsequent pace of negotiations on AI terms, will be closely watched as a bellwether for how the UK production sector intends to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence while upholding performers’ rights.
In summary, the collective voice of nearly 1,500 actors, including many prominent figures, has delivered a clear message to UK producers: any deal that fails to address the fundamental need for AI protection for performers is simply unacceptable. The stage is now set for critical discussions on Wednesday, June 25, which could significantly shape the future landscape of film and television production in the United Kingdom.
