Equity has revealed the results of a recent ballot indicating that almost all those members who voted are prepared to refuse being digitally scanned on set in order to secure better protections against the use of artificial intelligence in film and television.

The indicative, non-binding ballot asked the 7,000 of its members who had worked under a Pact-Equity agreement since 2021 whether they would be “prepared to refuse to be digitally scanned on set to secure adequate AI protections”. Of the three quarters who cast a ballot, 99.6% voted yes.

Responding to the result, Equity said that it has written to Pact to demand “a better deal on AI”, as part of its wider negotiations on a new agreement to replace the existing one, last updated in 2021. As Equity notes, whilst progress has been made on some areas, concerns remain about the need for stronger protections relating to the use of AI-generated synthetic performers, as well as the use of data to train AI systems.

If an agreement cannot be reached, Equity warns that it will move to a statutory postal ballot on taking “industrial action short of a strike”, which would involve members refusing to be scanned on set.

Commenting on the ballot, Paul W Fleming, General Secretary of Equity, said: “Artificial intelligence is a generation-defining challenge. And for the first time in a generation, Equity’s film and TV members have shown that they are willing to take industrial action…PACT and allied producers can turn this around. The ball is in their court when we return to the table”.

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