EXCLUSIVE: The UK actors union is encouraging all members to boycott the BBC‘s charter renewal survey due to concerns over its use of artificial intelligence and an “airbrushing” of the workforce.
Equity, which has called the survey “unfit for purpose in either detail or scope,” said it was unhappy that public responses to the survey will be aggregated by AI software.
Equity has also taken issue with “limited themes covered by the questions,” “simplistic framing” and “word limits in free text boxes.” The union, which has 50,000 members, also cited the “airbrushing of the workforce,” noting that there is a lack of focus on freelance workers throughout the survey.
The survey, which is conducted by the UK government’s Culture, Media & Sport (CMS) department, not the BBC, has 32 questions about the future of the corporation as 2027 charter renewal approaches. Questions are around future BBC funding, its missions and growth, amongst others.
Equity general secretary Paul Fleming said the government is “setting out to do a W1A-esque satire of the Charter Renewal process, ” in reference to the BBC comedy about its own organization starring Hugh Bonneville.
“Not only is it restrictive, blinkered, and unfit for purpose in both detail and scope – it is contemptuous of the wide and varied BBC workforce, including directly employed, freelance and commissioned workers,” added Fleming. “Creative workers will be dismayed at the missed opportunity to really delve into the purpose, position and possibilities for the BBC. And the fact that responses may be processed using artificial intelligence only adds insult to injury.”
Deadline understands AI is used in the survey in line with what Equity is referring to, but there will not be any automated decision making involved in any use of AI. AI has also been a sticking point in Equity’s negotiation with producer trade body Pact over a new set of contracts.
Responding to Equity’s point about an “airbrushing of workforce,” a CMS spokeswoman said the survey “wants to hear from those working for the BBC and wider sector, including freelancers.” “The BBC belongs to everyone, which is why we are asking people from across the country to be part of the conversation on its future,” she added. “As set out in the Green Paper, this Charter Review will, for the first time, consider issues of workplace culture to make sure all staff are properly supported and their voices heard.”
The consultation runs until March 10 and we understand Equity voiced its concern to the BBC last week, although the BBC is not responsible for the survey. The BBC declined comment.
Workforce Covenant
Equity is encouraging members to boycott the survey but has shared key demands with the government including what it termed a Workforce Covenant recognizing that BBC commissioning and operational decisions must respond to the needs of the workforce as well as audiences. It called for workforce representation on the BBC board.
Returning to the topic of AI, Equity urged an “enforceable commitment to abide by an ethical and rights-based approach to AI, including seeking artists’ agreement to any use of generative AI and consulting relevant unions in that regard.” That one remains very much a live issue.