UK Data and AI Regulator John Edwards Resigns Over Workplace Conduct
Article excerpt
John Edwards, who has run the UK's Information Commissioner's Office since January 2022, resigned after an independent workplace investigation found there was "a case to answer" regarding his behavior. Edwards acknowledged what he called inappropriate attempts at humor, framing his departure as a matter of poor judgment rather than any denial of wrongdoing. The ICO is the country's top data protection and AI oversight body, making the timing notable: the UK is in the middle of defining its regulatory posture on artificial intelligence, and the office has no immediate successor named. Edwards had been an import from New Zealand, where he previously served as Privacy Commissioner, and arrived in the role with a reputation as a modernizer. His resignation letter, by his own account, centered on the gap between the standards he expected of others and his own conduct. Independent workplace probes of this kind rarely end a senior regulator's tenure this quickly, which suggests the findings carried enough weight that staying was not a viable option.
LONDON, John Edwards has resigned from his role running the U.K.’s data protection watchdog, citing “poor judgement” in interactions with colleagues.
Edwards, who had helmed the U.K.’s Information Commission since 2022, had been subject to an independent workplace probe that began in February and concluded last week, finding there was “a case to answer.”
The data watchdog said at the time that the next steps were for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to determine.
In a LinkedIn post on Friday morning, Edwards revealed he had notified Ian Murray, the minister for digital government and data, of his resignation, which has taken immediate effect.
“From the time the investigation was launched, I have accepted that there have been occasions where I exercised poor judgement and made attempts at humour that were inappropriate and caused offence,” Edwards said in the statement. “It is for this reason that I have decided that it is appropriate that I resign from my position.”
Edwards announced in April, following inquiries by POLITICO, that he had voluntarily stepped back from his duties at the ICO on Feb. 26 amid an investigation. He continued to draw his annual salary.
Edwards was expected to step down from his roles later this year as part of a wider restructure of the regulator under the Data (Use and Access) Act. He previously served as New Zealand Privacy Commissioner from 2014 to 2021.
The ICO and DSIT did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Edwards did not respond to a request for further comment.