UK Threatens Mandatory CIISA Safeguards as Walliams Allegations Roil Entertainment Industry
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Nov 12
UK Threatens Mandatory CIISA Safeguards as Walliams Allegations Roil Entertainment Industry
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Nov 12
Summary
Lisa Nandy will warn industry leaders next week that the government could force entertainment companies to join CIISA if they fail to strengthen safeguarding quickly.
The threat follows allegations by several women that David Walliams abused his position and engaged in sexual misconduct; he denies the claims and says he is not a sexual predator.
Ministers are also weighing tighter limits on non-disclosure agreements, with Bridget Phillipson saying the law may need to go further to stop powerful men from silencing women.
CIISA is currently voluntary, a model critics including Zelda Perkins say leaves the least accountable parts of the creative industries outside oversight.
The pressure comes amid wider scrutiny after Walliams lost a bid to block publication of the allegations and after Russell Brand was sentenced on rape and sexual assault charges.
Will the government's threat of mandatory CIISA membership finally break the entertainment industry's wall of silence, or just drive misconduct further underground?
If NDAs can no longer silence victims, what new tactics might powerful figures use to protect their reputations in the creative industries?
How will the 2026 preventative duty on sexual harassment transform toxic TV sets when freelancers remain terrified of losing their next gig?