Britain’s former privacy regulator John Edwards is preparing legal action against a woman at the Information Commissioner’s Office who raised concerns about his conduct, Science Secretary Liz Kendall told MPs on Wednesday.
Kendall said the woman’s complaint helped an independent investigation that upheld multiple allegations against Edwards, who resigned as UK Information Commissioner in June. The role matters because the commissioner oversees enforcement of data protection and privacy law in the UK. The office that polices accountability in other organizations is now under ministerial scrutiny over its own culture.
Speaking to the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, Kendall said she was “absolutely appalled” by findings of “sexual harassment and bullying” at the ICO. She said the women who spoke up had been “incredibly brave.”
Kendall told the committee she had learned Edwards was preparing to serve legal papers on one of the women who reported concerns about his behavior earlier this year. She said she did not know the woman’s identity, but had tried to make clear that people who reported concerns should be heard “without being put at personal risk.” Kendall described Edwards’ alleged move as appalling.
Edwards had stepped back voluntarily from his duties in February while the workplace investigation was under way. At that stage, the conduct under examination had not been publicly specified.
When he announced his resignation in June, Edwards wrote on LinkedIn that he disagreed with how the investigation had been handled but accepted that his position had become untenable. He said there had been occasions when he used poor judgment and made attempts at humor that were inappropriate and caused offense. He said that was why he had decided to resign.
Kendall told MPs she would launch an independent review into the ICO’s culture, accountability and governance. That is a fairly pointed intervention for a regulator whose day job includes telling companies and public bodies how to manage risk, complaints and institutional responsibility.
The government will begin recruiting Edwards’ successor next week, Kendall said. She also said a new board of non-executive directors would be appointed, with women making up a majority of that board.
The ICO is the UK’s data protection watchdog. It supervises compliance with privacy and information rights laws, including investigations into organizations that mishandle personal data. Edwards’ departure leaves the watchdog looking for a new leader while ministers examine whether its internal controls failed the staff members who complained.
John Edwards, the UK government and the ICO did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to Recorded Future News.
This story draws on original reporting from The Record.
