UK actors union Equity signs open letter to Pact demanding AI protections

Approximately 1,500 British film and television actors have signed an open letter to a producer’s union agreement on AI protection for performers.

The letter, hosted by the British Actors Guild’s Equality, states that it “expresses concern over the lack of progress in ensuring performers’ AI protections.” Signatories include Tamsin Greig, Alan Davies, Emma D’Arcy, Nicola Walker and Wilf Scolding.

It comes amidst the fairness and agreements negotiating a new contract to set minimum pay and terms of contract for performers working in film and television. The agreement also sets the minimum terms and conditions for contracts used by streamers such as Apple, Netflix, Disney+.

The parties are scheduled to meet tomorrow (June 25) to discuss AI protection. The open letter states that equity members “will not accept transactions that do not allow key protections” in the area.

Part of AI protection’s fairness includes fair compensation for informed consent and performance data use, including training AI models and controlling for life and post-mortem portraits.