UK Data Protection Chief John Edwards Resigns Over 'Poor Judgement'

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.