Channel 4 Vicky Pattison: My Deepfake Sex Tape: When it's on TV, controversy and everything you need to know
Reality TV star Vicky Pattinson is exploring the issue of deepfake porn and the effects it has on women and girls in a brand new documentary. The show - Vicky Pattinson: My Deepfake Sex Tape sees the 37-year-old former Geordie Shore star create her own deepfake sex tape and release it on social media.
Deepfakes are digitally created and altered content often in the form of fake images, video and audio recordings. In some situations, deepfake porn can take on the exact likeness of areal person but with a false and sexually explicit body.
The use and sharing of deepfake porn online has become increasingly prevalent over recent years. Here's everything you need to know about the Vicky Pattinson's documentary, as well as its airtime and controversy.
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What is Vicky Pattinson: My Deepfake Sex Tape about?
The new Channel 4 documentary aims to explore the issue of deepfake content and its effect on women and girls. During the documentary, the 37-year-old reality TV star creates her own deepfake sex tape and then releases it on social media. The video, which has been created by AI, appears to show the star engaging in a sex act with a man, first in a bra and then topless.
Speaking to BBC News, Vicky acknowledged how creating such content would be "counterintuitive", but said she was trying to highlight the urgency of the issue. When talking about posting the content on X, she said: "What struck me most was how helpless I felt once it was released - it gave me a glimpse into the powerlessness victims experience".
She continued: "By putting myself in this position, even in a controlled and consensual way, I wanted to bring home just how vulnerable all of us are". During the documentary, she also speaks to the victims and perpetrators of one of the darkest uses of AI.
What time is the documentary on?
The documentary will be aired at 10pm on Tuesday evening, January 28, Channel 4, but also available on Channel 4+.
What's the controversy surrounding this documentary?
The Geordie Shore star has seen some backlash from those who have have been affected by deepfakes in real life. Many have questioned why she made the programme. Speaking to ITV's Lorraine on Tuesday morning, the star admitted she had "ruffled some feathers", but explained that her main aim was to "[spread] awareness".
She said: "I completely understand that this has been a divisive way to go about sharing the information about deepfake AI and to go about spreading awareness. I know that we've been loud and we've been deliberate and I know that it has ruffled some feathers. Anybody who feels any type of way about it, I completely understand their feelings and they're valid, I'm not trying to trivialise them."
You can watch Vicky Pattinson: My Deepfake Sex Tape at 10pm on Tuesday evening, January 28, Channel 4. The documentary will also be available on Channel 4+.
