This celebrity released her own sex tape. But it's not really her.

In a 'sex tape' leaked to X over the weekend, British reality star Vicky Pattison appears topless, enthusiastically engaging in a consensual sex act.

The clip was released by Pattison herself. She directed the tape too. Even produced it.

Only, the content isn't real. 

The 'sex tape' was created using deepfake technology, with the assistance of fully-consenting actors. The purpose? To illustrate the dangers of image-based abuse. 

The former Geordie Shore star worked with adult actors to create the piece which will feature in a new Channel 4 documentary, Vicky Pattison: My Deepfake Sex Tape.

Watch: The Danger Of Deepfakes. Article continues after the video.

Pattison, who placed fourth on Australia's I'm A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! in 2018, said she took part in the project to fully understand the impact of image-based abuse.

"I am hugely passionate about women's issues, and have found myself increasingly disturbed by how prevalent the problem of deepfake porn is becoming," Pattison said.

The reality star said she directed and produced the tape to ensure the process was fully consensual from start to finish. 

"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," she said.

Vicky Pattison released clips of the deepfakes to X. Image: X

"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."

Pattison said she hoped the documentary would bring attention to the imbalance of power and encourage society, lawmakers, and tech companies to provide stronger protection and support for those affected.

Pattison is trying to raise awareness of image-based abuse. Image: X

Deepfake porn uses technology to create a fake explicit tape by altering existing photographs or video. A Channel 4 News investigation from 2024 found that nearly 4,000 celebrities have been victims of deepfake pornography. 

But it's not just celebrities falling victim to this insidious and dangerous form of sexual abuse (known as Synthetic Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery or NCII), with deepfake imagery and moving vision becoming increasingly easy to create. 

The past year has seen rapid growth in programs using AI to generate non-consensual sexualised imagery.

According to a report generated by social media analytics firm Graphika, there's been a staggering 2,000 per cent increase in the number of links promoting websites that use AI to create non-consensual intimate images since the beginning of 2023.

In one month, those same sites reported 24 million unique visitors and around 1 million users. 

What was once a custom service available on niche internet forums, has become an "automated and scaled online business that leverages a myriad of resources to monetise and market its services," says the report. 

Frighteningly, synthetic NCII has become a fully-fledged industry, advertising freely on mainstream social media platforms, engaging in influencer marketing, and deploying customer referral schemes. 

"We assess the increasing prominence and accessibility of these services will very likely lead to further instances of online harm, such as the creation and dissemination of non-consensual nude images, targeted harassment campaigns, sextortion, and the generation of child sexual abuse material," the report says. 

Australian legislation introduced in July 2024, created new criminal offences that banned the sharing of non-consensual deepfake sexually explicit material.

These offences – including the sharing of non-consensual deepfake sexually explicit material, are subject to penalties of up to 6 years imprisonment. 

The creator of the deepfake faces an additional aggravated offence which carries a higher penalty of 7 years' imprisonment.

Anyone concerned about non-consensual intimate imagery should report the image to eSafety.gov.au/Report.

"I want this documentary to bring attention to the imbalance of power," Pattison said.

"My goal is to foster empathy and drive action and to contribute to a larger movement for justice and change, so victims feel supported, understood, and empowered to reclaim their voices and control."

Feature image: Instagram/@vickypattison.