News site Politico said Edwards\u2019 announcement came after it made inquiries on Friday \u201cregarding Edwards\u2019 work absence\u201d.<\/p>\n
Politico offered no further details.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the ICO said Edwards voluntarily stepped aside on February 26, in order \u201cto enable an independent workplace investigation which relates to him. This investigation will produce a report with recommendations for DSIT to decide next steps\u201d. <\/p>\n
The DSIT or Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is the ICO\u2019s parent agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo protect all parties involved and maintain the integrity of the investigation, we are unable to provide further details at this stage,\u201d the ICO statement said. <\/p>\n
Edwards said he had no comment when approached by the Herald.<\/p>\n
In his public-facing roles, Edwards has often adopted a front-foot approach, particularly with his criticism of Big Tech firms.<\/p>\n
Edwards also lobbied, unsuccessfully<\/a>, for the ability to fine firms up to $1 million for Privacy Act breaches when the legislation was updated in 2020. While Australia introduced A$50m fines, his office had to settle for a strongly-worded letter. <\/p>\n A story in The Times in the build-up to his ICO appointment was headlined, \u201cFacebook-hating New Zealander John Edwards in line to be Britain\u2019s privacy tsar\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n In a 2019 late night tweet – which he subsequently deleted – Edwards said, \u201cFacebook cannot be trusted. They are morally bankrupt pathological liars who enable genocide (Myanmar), facilitate foreign undermining of democratic institutions\u201d.<\/p>\n His comments were made in the wake of the Christchurch mosque massacres.<\/p>\n Edwards also posted that Facebook\u2019s initial silence about the shootings was \u201can insult to our grief<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n The Herald understands the Ardern-led Government asked him to dial down his rhetoric. <\/p>\n Others liked that he turned up the volume, and it turned heads in the UK.<\/p>\n \u201cJohn Edwards is outspoken. This is not a bad thing. We want and need privacy regulators who are not afraid to call out bad privacy practices, take a stand in the name of the consumer, and keep government agencies and corporations operating within privacy and ethical guardrails,\u201d the International Association of Privacy Professionals\u2019 Daimhin Warner wrote at the time.<\/p>\n