A spokesperson for Edwards said he had no comment on the post. <\/p>\n
\u2018No laughing matter\u2019<\/p>\n
Public and Commercial Services Union general secretary Fran Heathcote told the Daily Mail: \u201cWhile the former commissioner has sought to characterise the issues that led to his departure as a series of misjudged jokes, the allegations that prompted the investigation, including bullying and sexual harassment, are no laughing matter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Left NZ for $460k UK role<\/p>\n
Edwards was New Zealand\u2019s Privacy Commissioner from 2014 to 2021 until he was named to the equivalent role of Information Commissioner in Britain.<\/p>\n
Then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed off on the \u00a3200,000 ($460,000) per year role.<\/p>\n
In April, the Information Commissioner\u2019s Office (ICO) said Edwards voluntarily stepped aside on February 26, \u201cto enable an independent workplace investigation\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cSince February of this year, I have been the subject of an investigation,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhile I have not agreed with how that investigation has been conducted, I accept that my position has become untenable.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the time the investigation was launched, I have accepted that there have been occasions where I exercised poor judgment and made attempts at humour that were inappropriate and caused offence.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is for this reason that I have decided that it is appropriate that I resign from my position.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he did not want to be a distraction and his commitment to the principles, values and objectives he kept throughout his professional life would remain. <\/p>\n
\u201cI am proud of the contribution I have made and look forward to continuing to support this important work.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Step back from all contact with staff\u2019<\/p>\n
The Herald earlier reported<\/a> that during his voluntary step-down, Edwards had continued to receive updates and could \u201ccontribute as required\u201d.<\/p>\n He was then totally cut off, with deputy commissioner and chief executive Paul Arnold temporarily assuming his responsibilities. <\/p>\n British publication ComputerWeekly said it understood Arnold had also been designated as temporary acting accounting officer for the ICO.<\/p>\n Edwards had \u201cagreed to step back from all contact with ICO staff, with the exception of myself and his private office; will not enter ICO offices\u201d, Arnold said.<\/p>\n \u201cAs the Information Commissioner is accountable to Parliament, and not employed by the ICO, the next steps will be determined by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology,\u201d the ICO said. <\/p>\n \u201cThroughout this complex and unprecedented situation, our priority has been to provide a safe and supportive environment for our staff that enables them to carry out their important regulatory work,\u201d Arnold said.<\/p>\n \u2018Premature\u2019 statement<\/p>\n \u201cThere is an ongoing process which I have engaged with in good faith from the outset,\u201d Edwards earlier told the Herald via GRC Partners, an Auckland and Wellington communications firm that specialises in government affairs.<\/p>\n \u201cThe statement from the interim chief executive is premature and it is not appropriate for me, nor anyone, to comment further at this stage as the process has not yet concluded.\u201d<\/p>\n Acting ICO head Arnold has himself copped flak from Politico, with the publication questioning why he did not inform Parliament of the investigation until April, when the publication broke the story, given the investigation had begun on February 16. Edwards voluntarily stepped aside on February 26).<\/p>\n Back in New Zealand?<\/p>\n Edwards declined follow-up questions, including whether he has returned home.<\/p>\n On June 2, Politico reported: \u201cThe head of the UK\u2019s data protection watchdog has continued to draw his \u00a3200,000 annual salary despite not working since February and returning to his native New Zealand.\u201d<\/p>\n Politico said it had sighted emails in which \u201cArnold reassured Edwards that he would continue to be paid his salary \u2013 which is higher than the British Prime Minister\u2019s \u2013 in full and accrue other workplace benefits throughout the investigation\u201d.<\/p>\n Edwards\u2019 term was due to expire in January 2027.<\/p>\n Front-foot approach<\/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 ($61m) fines, his office had to settle for a strongly worded letter. <\/p>\n In a 2019 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 after 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. His style turned heads in Britain.<\/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