From www.abcnews.com – Britain’s chief policeman has ordered an inquiry into claims that journalists from the country’s most popular Sunday newspaper illegally hacked into the cell phone messages of thousands of public figures in their pursuit of stories.
In angry exchanges in parliament today politicians demanded answers after it was reported that the News of the World had paid to obtain voice mail messages, private addresses, phone numbers, bank statements and other information about as many as 3000 public figures including Gwyneth Paltrow, George Michael and senior politicians including London’s mayor.
Citing anonymous police sources, the Guardian newspaper said journalists at the tabloid used private investigators to hack into private voicemail messages, using the information to “gain unlawful access to private data, including tax records, social security files, bank statements and itemized phone bills.”
The allegations center on police reports used in cases brought against the News of the World which it settled out of court, paying more than $1.6 million dollars to three of the targets who reportedly signed gagging agreements not to publicize information as part of the deal.
Police files on the case have since been sealed but the Guardian claims to have gained access to the information they contained.
News International, which owns the News of the World as well as the Fox Broadcasting Company, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post is owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch. They issued a statement which said that it would be “inappropriate to comment at this time.”
The report re-ignites the debate about the ethics of Britain’s newspapers. In 2007 the News of the World’s royalty editor, Clive Goodman, was ordered jailed for four months for hacking into royal officials’ voicemail systems. Goodman’s accomplice, private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, was sentenced to six months in prison for hacking into the messages, including some from Princes William and Harry.
Britain’s Data Protection Act makes it an offense to “obtain, disclose or procure the disclosure” of personal information without consent a police statement is expected later today.