Equity Pushes for AI Protections Pact for UK Actors

Published Date : 24/06/2025 

British actors, including Emma D’Arcy, Tamsin Greig, and Alan Davies, have signed an open letter from Equity, urging Pact to prioritize AI protections for performers. 

Thousands of UK actors have been “digitally scanned on set without their informed consent,” according to an open letter from Brit actors union Equity. The letter, which has garnered nearly 1,500 signatures, calls for progress on artificial intelligence (AI) as Equity returns to the negotiating table with Pact, the producer trade body.

British actors Emma D’Arcy, Tamsin Greig, Alan Davies, Nicola Walker, and Wilf Scolding have so far signed the letter, which was published last week. “We also have no transparency around how our performances, likeness, and personal data are being recorded, stored, and processed within the context of the production and beyond,” Equity wrote in the letter.

The letter comes a day before Equity and Pact are due to sit down for another round of negotiations on a set of new collective agreements that have been ongoing for around 12 months. AI safeguards have been a significant sticking point in these negotiations. Equity has been upping the stakes in recent months, with re-elected General Secretary Paul Fleming saying the union is “industrial action ready” if negotiations keep failing. The union has also threatened court action against the BBC, ITV, Disney, and Pact if members' rights are breached in the training of AI models.

“We are writing ahead of your negotiation meeting with Equity Officials on 25 June to express concern at the lack of progress on securing AI protections for performers,” wrote Equity in the open letter. “We believe this is unacceptable and urge Pact to prioritize this crucial area affecting our industry and livelihoods.” Pact declined to comment on the letter.

Using the new U.S. SAG-AFTRA contacts as a partial blueprint, Equity’s claim with Pact is tailored to the implications of generative AI for different categories of actors, including dubbing and supporting artists. Equity stated it has put forward “a constructive proposal” including “important provisions on AI training, which the union has made clear is a red line in these negotiations.” “We will not accept any deal that does not grant us key protections for the use of our personal data for training AI systems and creating AI-generated performances,” added Equity.

The collective agreements being negotiated govern the vast majority of British TV shows and indie movies. Adding to the confusion, the BBC and ITV’s separate agreements with Equity failed to include artificial intelligence safeguards as the broadcasters did not want to include them until the Equity-Pact negotiations are resolved. The broadcasters have insisted that “discussion around AI provisions remains firmly on the table.”

The move comes as the UK government considers legislation that would mean copyright holders must opt-out from having their material used for training generative AI models. A BFI report earlier this month revealed that scripts from more than 130,000 films and TV shows have been used to train such models. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the main concern of Equity in the open letter to Pact?

A: The main concern of Equity is the lack of progress on securing AI protections for performers, including the digital scanning of actors without their informed consent and the lack of transparency around how their performances and personal data are being used.

Q: Who are some of the notable British actors who have signed the open letter?

A: Notable British actors who have signed the open letter include Emma D’Arcy, Tamsin Greig, Alan Davies, Nicola Walker, and Wilf Scolding.

Q: What is the status of the negotiations between Equity and Pact?

A: The negotiations between Equity and Pact have been ongoing for around 12 months, with AI safeguards being a significant sticking point. Equity has stated it is ‘industrial action ready’ if the negotiations fail to make progress.

Q: What is Equity’s stance on AI training and data usage?

A: Equity has made it clear that AI training and data usage are red lines in the negotiations. They will not accept any deal that does not grant key protections for the use of actors' personal data for training AI systems and creating AI-generated performances.

Q: What is the UK government considering regarding AI and copyright?

A: The UK government is considering legislation that would require copyright holders to opt-out if they do not want their material used for training generative AI models. A BFI report revealed that scripts from over 130,000 films and TV shows have been used to train such models. 

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