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Scum of the World Phone Hacking Scandal You Have No New Messages
Scum of the World Phone Hacking Scandal You Have No New Messages
Inside News:
The News International phone hacking scandal is an ongoing controversy involving the News of the World, a now-defunct British tabloid newspaper published byNews International — a subsidiary of News Corporation — and the revelation that individuals working for the newspaper engaged in phone hacking. There are related allegations that the newspaper had obtained information in further illicit ways including making payments to police officers; that it exercised improper influence on politicians and the police; and that other British newspapers were involved in similar activities.
While it originally appeared that the News of the World had only hacked the phones of celebrities, politicians and members of the British Royal Family, revelations in July 2011 that victims included murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, relatives of deceased British soldiers, and victims of the 7/7 London bombings generated widespread public outrage and revulsion. Advertiser boycotts[1] contributed to the closure of the News of the World, which published its final edition on 10 July 2011 after 168 years of publication.[1]
On 6 July 2011, British prime minister David Cameron declared that a public inquiry would convene to investigate the affair, once police inquiries had been completed. On 13 July, Cameron named Lord Justice Leveson as chairman of the inquiry, with a remit to look into the specific claims about phone hacking andpolice bribery by the News of the World, while a separate inquiry would consider the culture and ethics of the British media.[2] He also said the Press Complaints Commission would be replaced "entirely".[1]
The affair has resulted in several high-profile resignations and arrests. Staff who quit News Corporation in the wake of the scandal have included Les Hinton, a subsidiary chief executive, News International's legal manager Tom Crone, and its chief executive Rebekah Brooks. The Metropolitan Police Service's commissioner and Britain's most senior police officer, Sir Paul Stephenson, also resigned his post. Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson, the paper's former executive editor Neil Wallis, and Brooks were all arrested. Rupert Murdoch and his son James were summonsed to give evidence in Parliament.
The scandal eventually garnered attention in the United States, where News Corporation is headquartered and operates a multitude of media outlets. On 14 July theFederal Bureau of Investigation launched its own investigation into News Corporation, focusing on claims that its newspapers had violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and accessed voicemails of victims of the 9/11 attacks. On 15 July, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Department of Justice had also opened an investigation into the company.
