‘Highly sexualised language’: Kiwi John Edwards slammed after quitting as UK privacy czar

UK Science Secretary Liz Kendall has lashed out at New Zealander John Edwards, who resigned his position as the country’s top privacy watchdog late yesterday. 

“I’ve seen evidence of the vulgar and highly sexualised language that was used in his interactions with his staff and am extremely concerned that he continues to describe these incidents as misplaced humour,” Kendall said in a LinkedIn post. 

“Such conduct does not belong in the workplace, least of all exhibited by the leader of an organisation. 

“Multiple women shared testimony to the investigator on feeling offended, shocked and uncomfortable following interactions with Mr Edwards. I am deeply grateful to all who came forward to share their experiences as part of this investigation.” 

Edwards said he had resigned over “poor judgment” and “attempts at humour that were inappropriate and caused offence”. 

A spokesperson for Edwards said he had no comment on the post. 

Left NZ for £200,000 UK role 

Edwards was New Zealand’s Privacy Commissioner from 2014 to 2021 until he was named to the equivalent role of Information Commissioner in Britain. 

Then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed off on the £200,000 ($460,000) per year role. 

In April, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said Edwards voluntarily stepped aside on February 26, “to enable an independent workplace investigation”. 

“Since February of this year, I have been the subject of an investigation,” he said. 

“While I have not agreed with how that investigation has been conducted, I accept that my position has become untenable. 

“From 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. 

“It is for this reason that I have decided that it is appropriate that I resign from my position.” 

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. 

“I am proud of the contribution I have made and look forward to continuing to support this important work.” 

‘Step back from all contact with staff’ 

The Herald earlier reported that during his voluntary step-down, Edwards had continued to receive updates and could “contribute as required”. 

He was then totally cut off, with deputy commissioner and chief executive Paul Arnold temporarily assuming his responsibilities. 

British publication ComputerWeekly said it understood Arnold had also been designated as temporary acting accounting officer for the ICO. 

Edwards had “agreed to step back from all contact with ICO staff, with the exception of myself and his private office; will not enter ICO offices”, Arnold said. 

“As 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,” the ICO said. 

“Throughout 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,” Arnold said. 

‘Premature’ statement 

“There is an ongoing process which I have engaged with in good faith from the outset,” Edwards earlier told the Herald via GRC Partners, an Auckland and Wellington communications firm that specialises in government affairs. 

“The 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.” 

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). 

Back in New Zealand? 

Edwards declined follow-up questions, including whether he has returned home. 

On June 2, Politico reported: “The head of the UK’s data protection watchdog has continued to draw his £200,000 annual salary despite not working since February and returning to his native New Zealand.” 

Politico said it had sighted emails in which “Arnold reassured Edwards that he would continue to be paid his salary – which is higher than the British Prime Minister’s – in full and accrue other workplace benefits throughout the investigation”. 

Edwards’ term was due to expire in January 2027. 

Front-foot approach 

In his public-facing roles, Edwards has often adopted a front-foot approach, particularly with his criticism of Big Tech firms. 

Edwards also lobbied, unsuccessfully, 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. 

In a 2019 tweet, which he subsequently deleted, Edwards said: “Facebook cannot be trusted. They are morally bankrupt pathological liars who enable genocide [Myanmar], facilitate foreign undermining of democratic institutions.” 

His comments were made after the Christchurch mosque massacres. 

Edwards also posted that Facebook’s initial silence about the shootings was “an insult to our grief”. 

The Herald understands the Ardern-led Government asked him to dial down his rhetoric. 

Others liked that he turned up the volume. His style turned heads in Britain. 

“John 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,” the International Association of Privacy Professionals’ Daimhin Warner wrote at the time. 

Edwards hit the ground running in Britain. In April 2023, his office fined TikTok £12.7m for collecting data on children, in contravention of Britain’s privacy rules. 

More recently under Edwards, the ICO fined password manager LastPass UK £1.23m after “a significant data breach” and DNA firm 23andMe £2.31m for “security failings”. And in February this year, his office fined Reddit £14.47m for infringements of data processing laws for minors.