Vicky Pattison is going to release a deepfake sex tape of herself on social media.
This bold move from the TV star will be for a new documentary exploring the issue and its effect on women and girls.
Pattison is going to direct, produce and distribute her own explicit video using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to superimpose her face onto the actor portraying her likeness.
Best known for appearing on Geordie Shore back in the day, the 37-year-old says she’s ‘wrestled with this decision’ for quite some time.
But she has ultimately (and bravely) decided to go ahead with it to give some insight into what actual victims go through.
Pattison will direct and distribute the video herself (Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Pattison will share the pornography in order to learn more about how this kind of deepfake content spreads and the processes involved in attempting to get it taken down.
“I am hugely passionate about women’s issues and have found myself increasingly disturbed by how prevalent the problem of deepfake porn is becoming,” the star said.
“This is just the latest trend in the abuse of women and having met some of the inspirational women who have put their lives back together after being victims of sexually-explicit deepfake abuse, I feel more strongly than ever that we need to stand with these women and continue to put pressure on the greater powers within the Government to catch up with the speed at which this technology is advancing.
“As part of the documentary, I have made the challenging decision to release my own deepfake sex tape online, which I directed and produced with actors to ensure the process was fully consensual from start to finish.”
In sharing the content on social media, Pattison has had to accept the fact it may live online forever.
Her documentary will release later this month (Joe Maher/Getty Images for BFC)
She continued: “Whilst I know this doesn’t compare to the distress and horror actual victims feel when they discover this content of themselves, I hope it will give some insight into what they go through.”
This will be part of a Channel 4 documentary titled Vicky Pattison: My Deepfake Sex Tape which is aiming to ‘bring attention to the imbalance of power and encourage society, lawmakers and tech companies to provide stronger protections and support for those who are affected’.
Pattison added: “My goal is to foster empathy and drive action, and to contribute to a larger movement for justice and change, so victims feel supported, understood and empowered to reclaim their voices and control.”
During the documentary she meets women who have found themselves subject to image-based abuse and deepfake porn.
Vicky Pattison: My Deepfake Sex Tape will be available to watch and stream on Channel 4 at 10pm on 28 January.