UK Actors Overwhelmingly Vote Against On-Set Digital Scanning Amid AI Concerns

Actors in the UK have voted overwhelmingly to refuse digital scanning on set, as part of ongoing concerns about the use of artificial intelligence in the film and television industry. The vote was conducted by Equity, the country’s largest actors’ union, in an indicative industrial action ballot involving more than 7,000 performers working across TV and film. While the ballot is not legally binding and does not automatically prevent members from being digitally scanned, it signals strong support within the acting community for protective measures regarding AI. The action comes after a similar situation in the United States, where the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA went on strike for four months in 2023 over AI-related concerns. Equity’s move highlights growing unease about the potential impact of AI on creative work, intellectual property, and performers’ rights. The result serves as a warning to producers and industry stakeholders about the seriousness of the issue and the willingness of actors to take industrial action if necessary. The union plans to use the vote as leverage to negotiate safeguards that ensure performers’ likenesses are protected and not exploited by AI technologies without consent. This development could have significant implications for the UK film and television industry, influencing how digital scanning and AI are managed on sets going forward.