Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Deeper Spying Is Seen in Hewlett Review - New York Times A secret investigation of news leaks at Hewlett-Packard was more elaborate than previously reported, and almost from the start involved the illicit gathering of private phone records and direct surveillance of board members and journalists, according to people briefed on the company's review of the operation. The effort received some degree of supervision from three officials -- Patricia C. Dunn, the company's chairwoman, along with its general counsel and another staff attorney -- but was quickly farmed out to a network of private investigative firms early last year, according to descriptions of the findings. It is still unclear how much they knew of the details. Those briefed on the company's review of the operation say detectives tried to plant software on at least one journalist's computer that would enable messages to be traced, and also followed directors and possibly a journalist in an attempt to identify a leaker on the board. The revelations at Hewlett-Packard, the computer and printer maker that helped define Silicon Valley, have provided a rare glimpse of boardroom turmoil -- resulting in Ms. Dunn's agreement to step down as chairwoman in January, and two resignations from the board. 12:16:24 AM  PermaLink   / trackback []

Anti-HP hypocrisy in Congress? | Perspectives | CNET News.com Hewlett-Packard's phone records scandal might be enough to spur Congress into approving federal legislation banning the practice that's been stuck in committee for most of the year. The problem, though, is that the proposals in front of Congress aren't likely to stop some of the most aggressive users of "pretexting": the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies. They're simply immunized. Police who engage in pretexting and the shady private investigators they hire won't be affected. A CNET News.com chart of 11 supposedly "anti-pretexting" bills shows that all but four bills exempt police in one way or another. Let's be clear about what pretexting is. It means committing fraud to acquire someone's personal records, such as phone calls, without their consent. It's like hiring a private investigator to break into someone's safe-deposit box one evening because you're curious about their net worth. In the case of HP, investigators hired by the company lied to get the telephone records of board members, employees and journalists, including three reporters from News.com. 12:00:32 AM  PermaLink   / trackback []