Yahoo News Channel 4 criticised over Vicky Pattison deepfake documentary
Channel 4 has been criticised for a new documentary in which Vicky Pattison produced her own deepfake sex tape.
Vicky Pattison: My Deepfake Sex Tape, which airs next week, explores the impact of deepfake pornography on women and girls in society.
As part of the documentary, Vicky produced and released her own deepfake video on social media in order to better understand how the content spreads online and to learn more about how to get it taken down.
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However Vicky and Channel 4 have been criticised for the move, with one intimate deepfake survivor labelling it 'offensive' and saying that it "fuels harmful narratives".
Speaking to the Daily Star, a deepfake image abuse survivor and campaigner named Jodie said: "As a survivor of synthetic intimate image abuse, I feel deeply offended, let down, and disappointed by Channel 4’s decision to create and distribute a 'deepfake' video of Vicky Pattison for her upcoming documentary.
"Survivor organisations, including those I work with, strongly advised against this approach, warning it could compromise her safety, increase traffic to the very websites profiting from non-consensual abuse, and undermine the fight for survivor-centred legislation."
Jodie continued: "It is also deeply disrespectful to real survivors - women who have experienced the trauma of discovering their bodies have been digitally violated by people they trusted, such as partners, friends, family members, or colleagues.
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"While Vicky’s intentions may have been to raise awareness, this decision by Channel 4 feels like a betrayal to survivors like me who have fought tirelessly for recognition, dignity, and justice."
Digital Spy has reached out to Channel 4 for comment.
Vicky previously spoke about her decision to make her own deepfake video as part of the documentary process.
"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," Vicky said.
"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."
Vicky Pattison: My Deepfake Sex Tape will be available to watch and stream on Channel 4 at 10pm on Tuesday 28th January.
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