John Edwards, the UK's information commissioner and top data and AI regulator, has resigned after a workplace investigation found his attempts at humor were inappropriate and caused offense.
Edwards, who had served as commissioner since January 2022, acknowledged that he had exercised poor judgment on occasion. "I have accepted that there have been occasions where I exercised poor judgement and made attempts at humour that were inappropriate and caused offence," he said in a statement on Friday.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) oversees data protection, freedom of information, and AI regulation in the UK. The government confirmed Edwards' resignation came after an independent probe into allegations against him.
"The government expects the highest standards of conduct from all senior leaders in public life," said a spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). "Mr Edwards has acknowledged that his conduct fell below these standards."
Edwards had stepped back from his role in February when the investigation began. In his statement, shared on LinkedIn, he said he disagreed with how the ICO's investigation was conducted but accepted that his position had become untenable. He resigned as commissioner and chair of the ICO effective immediately.
The ICO noted on June 10 that its investigation had concluded there was a case to answer, and Edwards was temporarily unable to act in his responsibilities.
Increased scrutiny
Edwards' resignation comes amid heightened scrutiny of the ICO's handling of data protection complaints. Campaign groups Good Law Project and Open Rights Group (ORG) recently launched legal action, accusing the watchdog of ignoring thousands of public data complaints.
"John Edwards' departure is a chance for the Government to appoint a regulator with teeth," said Jim Killock, executive director of ORG.
'Unprecedented'
Jon Baines, senior data protection specialist at Mishcon de Reya, described the resignation as unprecedented. "We have had Information Commissioners since 1984, and all have served their full term. This is the first ever resignation, and it is in extraordinary circumstances," he told the BBC.
The role of Information Commissioner is expected to be abolished soon, replaced by an Information Commission, meaning the government will need to recruit a new chair.
The ICO has powers to fine companies up to £17.5 million or 4% of their global turnover for serious data breaches. It recently fined Reddit £14 million for unlawfully using children's personal information.