While Murdoch defenders wallow in their claims that the phone hacking perpetrated by the News of the World is an isolated incident, news today that former UK PM Gordon Brown was routinely targeted by the Murdoch empire should dispel such cozy claims. Murdoch’s News International is now reeling from broader assertions that it actively hacked the ex PM’s bank account and voicemail.
Brown was targeted during a period of more than 10 years, both as chancellor of the exchequer and as prime minister. Some of the activity clearly was illegal. Other incidents breached his privacy but not the law. An investigation by the Guardian has found that:• Scotland Yard has discovered references to both Brown and his wife, Sarah, in paperwork seized from Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator who specialised in phone hacking for the News of the World;• Abbey National bank found evidence suggesting that a “blagger” acting for the Sunday Times on six occasions posed as Brown and gained details from his account;• Brown’s London lawyers, Allen & Overy, were tricked into handing over details from his file by a conman working for the Sunday Times;• Details from his infant son’s medical records were obtained by the Sun, who published a story about the child’s serious illness.
On this side of the pond, it’s too bad we don’t have the same diligence that the Guardian is showing in the reporting of the corruption of its own industry. Perhaps Fox News has more oversight than Murdoch’s UK enterprises and Canda’s Sun/Post medias have no overt political agenda. Then again, monkeys could fly out of my butt.
