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Boardroom Spying Debacle at HP

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the corporate-mafia dept.

theodp writes "As word spread that HP was dumping Board member George Keyworth for press leaks, Newsweek broke the bigger story: HP Chairwoman Patricia Dunn was so obsessed with finding the leaker that she authorized a team of independent electronic-security experts to spy on the phone records of calls made from HP Directors' home and private cell phones. Not only that, phone records were obtained via pretexting, the controversial practice of obtaining information under false pretenses. After Dunn laid out the surveillance scheme for the Board last May, HP Director Tom Perkins quit on the spot, characterizing Dunn's actions as illegal and unethical. HP is also coming under fire for playing dumb to the SEC about the reasons behind Perkins' resignation. Perkins, who helped launch HP's computer division in the 60's, has asked the FTC, FCC and the Justice Department to investigate."

8 of 505 comments (clear)

  1. 30 Examples by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    You should note that our president set that example 30 times. I know it's old news but if the DoJ tries to prosecute HP, maybe Bush will ask for it to be thrown out?

  2. Not really by WindBourne · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Bush authorized and backed the leak, and then turned it into a seeming witchhunt. I seriously doubt that he expected anybody to even come close to finding the answer.

    In this case, Dunn did not want this leaked. I would also guess that she is not going to appreciate the focus that will now happen to HP.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    1. Re:Not really by gb506 · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      I think he's right, Joe, in order to avoid being modded down you've got to cite a source that inserts the boilerplate anti-administration spin along with the facts, so as to placate the moonbats. Make a note of that, please...

    2. Re:Not really by Xeger · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      Of course, we all know that Cheney/Rove are incapable of subtlety, so they couldn't *possibly* have deliberately leaked the information to Armitage with the full knowledge that Armitage would then leak it to the press.

      No, that can't possibly be what happened. I credit our leaders with far too much intelligence.

  3. Re:And this is why by DigiShaman · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Imagine if Hillary Clinton was our President? After hearing her rant/rave like a banshee on the floor... *shivers*

    --
    Life is not for the lazy.
  4. Re:An example by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Congratulations, you've just set the bar for your president as low as Clinton. I bet you're proud.

  5. Re:And this is why by shawngarringer · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    I would never vote for Hillary, and I'm a registered Democrat. And its _not_ because shes a woman...

  6. Re:HP and their women CEOs by Delight-Delirium · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    This is very insightful. You may also be interested to know that it was mostly Jews that created the Atom Bomb. War, hatred and destruction are clearly an invention of the evil heebs.

    I only say this as a Jewish woman, of course.