UK's top AI regulator quits after 'inappropriate' humour

UK AI regulator quits after 'attempts at humour that were inappropriate'Just nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleLiv McMahonTechnology reporterBBCJohn Edwards had been the information commissioner since 2022John Edwards, the UK's information commissioner, has resigned following a workplace investigation."I have accepted that there have been occasions where I exercised poor judgement and made attempts at humour that were inappropriate and caused offence," he said in a statement on Friday.The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is responsible for regulating AI in the UK and also oversees data protection regulation and the freedom of information law.The BBC has approached the ICO and the government for a response.Edwards, who had been at the watchdog since January 2022, had already stepped back from his post in February when the investigation started.In his statement, shared on his LinkedIn page, he said while he disagreed with how the ICO's investigation had been carried out, "I accept that my position has become untenable".He said he did not want to become "a distraction" from the ICO's work and had notified the government of his resignation as both commissioner and chair of the ICO "effective immediately".The ICO said in a statement on 10 June its investigation had been completed and, finding "there is a case to answer", said the commissioner would be "temporarily unable to act in fulfilling his responsibilities for the remainder of the process".It comes amid increased scrutiny over the ICO's work, particularly in dealing with data protection complaints from the public.Non-profit campaign groups the Good Law Project and the Open Rights Group (ORG) recently launched action to challenge the watchdog - accusing it of "brushing aside thousands of public data complaints"."John Edwards' departure is a chance for the Government to appoint a regulator wit...