ICO chief John Edwards steps back as workplace probe quietly unfolds

The UK's data watchdog is without its chief after John Edwards stepped aside from the Information Commissioner's Office while an independent workplace investigation examines unspecified HR matters. In a LinkedIn post over the weekend, Edwards said he had "voluntarily stepped aside" from his duties for the past few weeks while …

[DaveK23]

Re: "In the meantime, the regulator says it is carrying on as usual"

That's not a good thing.

[heyrick]

carrying on as usual

So still useless, ineffective, toothless, and apathetic, then?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: carrying on as usual

“The ICO provided a little more detail in a statement to The Register, confirming Edwards formally stepped back on February 26 to "enable an independent workplace investigation which relates to him." The regulator said the investigation will produce a report with recommendations for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), which will decide what happens next.”

Formerly charged with running a really shit organisation in cahoots with the Foxes it’s supposed to regulate.

[breakfast]

Re: carrying on as usual

Let's not forget expensive. I don't mind paying my regular taxes on my business but for some reason even though it's not a huge amount the ICO tax really riles me up, possibly because it's described as a registration fee, which it absolutely is not. Money that has to be paid to the state is a tax. Just bundle it up into regular taxation and be done.

[VoiceOfTruth]

Investigation

The establishment will investigate itself, and see what lessons can be learned.

[Tron]

If it can function without him....

...why do taxpayers have to cough up for his salary? Which I'm sure he will still be getting whilst not actually doing the job.

[IGotOut]

Re: If it can function without him....

Because you need some one at the top to shout "AI". They then decimate the already overworked and demoralised staff, provide a shitier service and go "Look how good AI is", everyone loves it.

[Michael Hoffmann]

A DSIT spokesperson told us:

“It is right there is an independent workplace investigation ..."

So that spokesperson can't speak or write grammatically correct English either?

That said, isn't the way these things are handled int he UK now that he gets a peerage and becomes ambassador to the USA?

[Disgusted of Cheltenham]

Not sure if peerage is available for New Zealanders, but why is a Crown body like DSIT lording it over a Parliamentary one (ICO)?

[DaveK23]

“It is right there is an independent workplace investigation ..."

So that spokesperson can't speak or write grammatically correct English either?

Well, he could have meant that it was correct and proper for there to be an investigation. I'm also calling Muphry's Law on your usage of "int he"!

[Michael Hoffmann]

It's a fair cop, guv!