Who Is Duncan Crabtree-Ireland? SAG-AFTRA CEO
SAG-AFTRA’s CEO and chief negotiator
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland serves as the CEO of SAG-AFTRA and as its chief negotiator. Deadline
At Ban the Bots, we track the people and organizations fighting AI: activists, union leaders, lawmakers, plaintiffs, researchers and founders pushing back on how AI is built and used. We track Crabtree-Ireland’s remarks on AI likeness misuse and his work as SAG-AFTRA’s chief negotiator. Deadline Deadline
He joined SAG-AFTRA in 2000, became its general counsel in 2006 and was named its chief operating officer in 2014. Wikipedia
Where Duncan Crabtree-Ireland Is Now
Crabtree-Ireland spoke about AI likeness misuse at a Web Summit session in Lisbon entitled ‘Hollywood’s Identity Crisis’. Deadline
- Current role: CEO and chief negotiator. Deadline
- Organization: SAG-AFTRA. Deadline
- Known for: Serving as lead negotiator during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike and the 2024–2025 SAG-AFTRA video game strike. Wikipedia
- Recent news: The SAG-AFTRA National Board voted to extend his contract through June 20, 2032. Deadline
Career
Crabtree-Ireland earned a bachelor’s degree in international law and policy from Georgetown University and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis in 1998. He worked for two years as a prosecutor in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. Wikipedia
He joined SAG-AFTRA in 2000, became general counsel in 2006 and was named chief operating officer in 2014. He has held the positions of national executive director and chief negotiator since 2021. Wikipedia
Contract Extension and 2023 Likeness Misuse
The SAG-AFTRA National Board approved an extension of Crabtree-Ireland’s contract with 98.34% of the vote. The board voted to extend the contract through June 20, 2032, and added CEO to his official title. Deadline
Crabtree-Ireland had his own likeness misused while SAG-AFTRA members were on strike in 2023. Deadline
AI and Union Negotiations
According to Crabtree-Ireland, performers whose likenesses are misused by AI mostly want the content taken down rather than to pursue damages. He estimated that roughly 10% to 15% of SAG-AFTRA members want the union to block artificial intelligence. Deadline
Crabtree-Ireland negotiated a four-year contract between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP. Deadline
Sources
More people pushing back on AI are mapped in our guide to who is fighting AI, and the unions, companies and governments drawing the line are tracked on Fighting Back.
Frequently asked questions
▸ Who is Duncan Crabtree-Ireland?
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▸ What is Duncan Crabtree-Ireland’s role in SAG-AFTRA negotiations?
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▸ What has Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said about AI likeness misuse?
▸ Where did Duncan Crabtree-Ireland earn his degrees?
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