Deepfake law explained as Vicky Pattison explains why she released explicit tape

While best known for her many years starring as the face of Geordie Shore, Vicky Pattison is swapping trebles in the bars of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to explore the dangers of artificial intelligence and pornography.

Now aged 37, Pattison rose to reality TV stardom back in 2011 as one of the more vocal cast members in MTV's Geordie Shore and then Ex on the Beach, before going on to win I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here.

Moving away from the escapism of reality TV, Pattison is now starring in her own Channel 4 documentary entitled, Vicky Pattison: My Deepfake Sex Tape.

Exploring a very troubling and real issue for many women, the issue of deepfakes is one that has found its way in to UK law.

Why did Vicky Pattison make a deepfake of herself?

Pattison directed, produced, and distributed the explicit video before using AI to install deepfake technology on to the pornographic clip.

Airing tonight (28 January) on Channel 4 and the Channel 4 app, it is exploring how Pattison went down the route of taking a clip of another woman performing a sex act and superimposing her own likeness on to it.

This then gave the impression the woman in the video was her.

The documentary explores the issue in depth and the effect it has on women and girls who have become victims of deepfakes. This is despite campaigners warning against what Pattison has done, with one deepfake image survivor saying she was 'deeply offended' by what has been created.

Vicky Pattison self-imposed her likeness on an adult film actress' face to create a deepfake adult film (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Channel 4 defends the documentary

After being presented with criticism of the documentary, a Channel 4 spokesperson told LADbible that the film has been created to 'demonstrate how simple it is to create explicit deepfake content and raise awareness of how accessible this content is and how it can proliferate online'.

The broadcaster also said Pattison wanted to explore 'as closely as possible' how it might feel for someone to become a victim of this crime and to document this to a wider audience.

"The choice to make original footage ensures that everyone involved was able to fully consent from the outset," the spokesperson said.

Vicky has done the documentary to explore the wider issue of deepfakes and the harm it causes victims (Channel 4)

Are deepfakes illegal in the UK?

Deepfakes are 100 percent illegal in the UK following on from recent legislation that was ratified under the government of former prime minister Rishi Sunak.

Those who create sexually explicit images without consent - even if they don't share it wider - face a criminal record and an unlimited fine. If it is then shared widely, prison time is a possibility.

The then minister for victims and safeguarding Laura Farris said: "The creation of deepfake sexual images is despicable and completely unacceptable irrespective of whether the image is shared.

"It is another example of ways in which certain people seek to degrade and dehumanise others - especially women. And it has the capacity to cause catastrophic consequences if the material is shared more widely. This new offence sends a crystal clear message that making this material is immoral, often misogynistic, and a crime."