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Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 08:41:23 -0500
To: TSCM-L <TSCM-..._at_googlegroups.com>
From: "James M. Atkinson" <jm..._at_tscm.com>
Subject: Bugging case leads to calls for tougher privacy laws
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http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1960278,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=1
Bugging case leads to calls for tougher privacy laws
Sandra Laville and Owen Gibson
Thursday November 30, 2006
The Guardian
Revelations of a sustained bugging campaign targeting two government
ministers, a newspaper editor, an England footballer and a string of
celebrities prompted calls yesterday for tougher sentences for the
buying and selling of confidential personal data.
The government's information commissioner spoke out after Clive
Goodman, the News of the World's royal editor, admitted at the Old
Bailey yesterday to tapping into mobile phones belonging to aides of
the Prince of Wales and his son, Prince William, over a 20 month period.
Goodman, 48, faces up to two years in jail for conspiracy to
intercept communications contrary to the Criminal Law Act 1977. Mr
Justice Goss agreed to remand him on unconditional bail for
pre-sentence reports but he warned: "I am not ruling out any options.
It's a very serious matter."
Glenn Mulcaire, a former footballer turned private detective who was
hired by Goodman, admitted the same charge. He also pleaded guilty to
five charges of unlawfully intercepting voicemail messages left by
Max Clifford, the publicist, Skylet Andrew, who is agent for the
footballer Sol Campbell, Gordon Taylor, chairman of the Professional
Footballers' Association, the MP Simon Hughes and the model Elle
Macpherson. Fourteen other charges were allowed to lie on file.
But the high profile figures named in the criminal charges were the
tip of the iceberg, legal sources say. Detectives from Scotland
Yard's counter terrorism unit, who investigated the tapping,
uncovered a string of other targets: figures including two government
ministers, footballers, a newspaper editor, celebrities and models.
They drew up a list which is understood to contain the names of David
Blunkett when he was home secretary, the government minister David
Miliband and Rebekah Wade, editor of the News of the World's sister
paper, the Sun.
Yesterday's prosecution added weight to a wider call for a clampdown
on the trade in personal information. Last night Richard Thomas, the
information commissioner, said in a statement: "Information obtained
improperly, very often by means of deception, can cause significant
harm and distress to individuals. The information commissioner has
called for prison sentences of up to two years for people who take
part in this illegal trade in personal information."
Sir Christopher Meyer, chairman of the Press Complaints Commission,
said the board would review the journalists' code of practice in
light of the case. "[We] are absolutely clear on the issue of phone
message tapping: it is a totally unacceptable practice unless there
is a compelling public interest reason for carrying it out," he said
Goodman and his editor, Andy Coulson, immediately issued an apology
to the royal household. Coulson said: "Clive Goodman's actions were
entirely wrong and I have put in place measures to ensure they will
not be repeated by any member of my staff. I have written today to
Sir Michael Peat, the Prince of Wales's private secretary, to this effect."
The prince is understood to be unhappy about the way photographers
follow his sons and their girlfriends. Clarence House is believed to
be considering legal action to limit the behaviour of tabloid
journalists if the industry cannot reform itself, and hopes this case
may prompt changes..
Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrat MP whose voicemail was
intercepted, said: "I have long held the view that courts should be
allowed to deprive those responsible for this sort of behaviour of
their liberty because it is a serious offence to interfere with the
freedoms of others."
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World Class, Professional, Ethical, and Competent Bug Sweeps, and
Wiretap Detection using Sophisticated Laboratory Grade Test Equipment.
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James M. Atkinson Phone: (978) 546-3803
Granite Island Group Fax: (978) 546-9467
127 Eastern Avenue #291 Web:
http://www.tscm.com/
Gloucester, MA 01931-8008 E-mail: mailto:jm..._at_tscm.com
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take no prisoners, and we give no quarter. Our goal is to stop the spy.
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Received on Sat Mar 02 2024 - 00:57:28 CST