Vicky Pattison wants to confront the dangers of deepfake pornography (Picture: Channel 4 / PA)
Reality star Vicky Pattison has released her own deepfake sex tape on social media ahead of her documentary.
The former Geordie Shore star, 37, shared the deepfake pornography through an anonymous account on X over the weekend to highlight the dangers of this AI technology and ‘to experience what victims of this horrifying and ever-growing trend go through’.
Deepfake technology can place somebody’s face on pornographic images or even videos to create realistic and violating content, with the UK government planning to implement punitive laws to crack down on perpetrators.
Vicky has ‘directed and produced’ a deepfake video featuring herself as part of her new Channel 4 documentary, Vicky Pattison: My Deepfake Sex Tape, which investigates the alarming depth of this issue.
The video, which begins with the AI version of herself in a bra before she becomes topless, already sparked comments and reactions from X useres before she revealed that she was behind its release.
‘I wrestled with this decision for a long time, mulling over the permanence of it, and ultimately coming to accept the fact that this content may live online forever,’ she said in a statement, per the Mirror.
Vicky Pattison has purposefully distributed a deepfake sex tape on social media as part of her new documentary on the issue (Picture: X)
The Geordie Shore star said she ‘mulled over the decision’ for weeks (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock)
The reality star was supported by friends, family and fans on Instagram (Picture: Channel 4)
In an Instagram story, Vicky explained that after ‘months of debate’ with Channel 4 and production company Potato, they made the ‘very difficult choice’ to release the tape on X.
The recently married TV star then thanked fans for their support, writing: ‘I directed and produced it with actors to ensure the process was fully consensual from start to finish.’
She continued: ‘Whilst I know this doesn’t begin to compare to the distress and horror actual victims feel when they discover this content of themselves, I hope it will give some insight of what they go through.’
Vicky added that the most ‘horrifying’ aspect of the documentary was realising how easy it was to use this one piece of technology that has ‘ruined thousands of women’s lives’.
The media personality called deepfake technology a ‘terrifying evolution of an age-old tale… of power, control, and exploitation of women’. She reiterated that women shouldn’t ‘live in fear of the ever-present threat of AI’.
The documentary will air on Channel 4 later this month (Picture: Channel 4/PA)
The 37-year-old TV personality wants more measures in place to protect and support victims of this technology (Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
In a separate Instagram post announcing the documentary, she also confirmed the inclusion of testimony from women who this ‘thriving’ technology has directly impacted.
‘Women are being violated in the most intimate and dehumanising way, & the world just scrolls past,’ she wrote.
She continued: ‘Their stories are heartbreaking, but they’re also a testament to the strength it takes to reclaim your life after something so horrific.
‘This film is my plea for action. We need stronger laws. We need tech companies to step up. We need society to wake up.’
Shaminder Nahal, Head of Specialist Factual at Channel 4 said: ‘We are hugely grateful to Vicky for immersing herself in the subject of image-based abuse in the most provocative and visceral way possible.
‘I hope that this bold and thoughtful film will offer real insights, spark debate and move the discussion about deepfake pornography forward at a time when technology is moving so fast, we don’t even know where it will take us.’
One of the participants is Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman, who discovered a deepfake porn video of herself last year.
Cara Hunter, a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Northern Ireland,also features after becoming a victim of image-based abuse in 2022.
Her husband, Ercan Ramadan, was among many to share support in the comments, as he wrote: ‘Powerful. So proud of you.’
Geordie Shore co-star Nathan Henry said: ‘Well done, amazing work.’
Cathy Newman, a documentary participant, is one of many who has been impacted by deepfakes (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
What is the punishment Labour will introduce for deepfakes?
The UK government plan to make creating sexually explicit ‘deepfake’ images a criminal offence with perpetrators facing up to two years behind bars.
This comes under new offences for taking an intimate image without consent and installing equipment to enable these offences.
New offences also include the taking of intimate images without consent and the installation of equipment with intent to commit these offences.
‘You are AMAZING! So proud of you, the lengths you go to to support women across the board in so many different aspects really is amazing, and this is no exception! I cannot wait to watch YOUR documentary,’ @sarahotes_ added.
‘You are phenomenal, I’m so very proud of you & your bravery. This documentary is SO important & you continue to amaze me as an advocate for women & young girls all over the world. Well done VP,’ @_gjoy echoed.
Earlier this year, Channel 4 released an investigation into five of the most visited deepfake websites where 255 of the almost 4,000 famous individuals are British (and all but two, women).
‘It feels like a violation. It just feels really sinister that someone out there who’s put this together, I can’t see them, and they can see this kind of imaginary version of me, this fake version of me,
‘You can’t unsee that. That’s something that I’ll keep returning to. And just the idea that thousands of women have been manipulated in this way, it feels like an absolutely gross intrusion and violation,’ Cathy said the the time.
Vicky Pattison: My Deepfake Sex Tape airs at 10pm on January 28 on Channel 4.
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