ACTORS working in TV and film voted in a landslide to take industrial action over AI today, with 99 per cent refusing to be digitally scanned on set.

The indicative ballot, held by union Equity, means production companies will face greater pushback as workers organise to protect themselves against abuses surrounding artificial intelligence.

Workers holding signs reading “performers demand AI protections” awaited the results today afternoon at Equity’s headquarters in central London.

Equity general secretary Paul W Fleming announced the results, which put the indicative strike ballot at 99 per cent in favour of striking for AI protections.

He said: “Artificial intelligence is a generation-defining challenge. And for the first time in a generation, Equity’s film and TV members have shown that they are willing to take industrial action.

“Ninety per cent of TV and film is made on these agreements. Over three quarters of artists working on them are union members.

“This shows that the workforce is willing to significantly disrupt production unless they are respected and decades of erosion in terms and conditions begins to be reversed.

“The US streamers and Pact need to step away from the brink, and respect this show of strength. We need adequate AI protections which build on, not merely replicate, those agreed after the Sag-Aftra strike in the US over two years ago.”

The result came in the middle of negotiations between Equity and Pact, which represents the majority of film and TV production companies in the country, over minimum pay standards and work conditions.