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HP Pays $14.5M to Make Civil Charges Disappear

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the throwing-money-at-the-problem dept.

theodp writes "The California Attorney General's Office negotiated a $14.5 million payoff from HP as part of a settlement that calls for the state not to pursue civil charges related to the now infamous spy scandal against the company and its current or former officers or directors (felony criminal charges against five individuals still remain). HP also agreed to maintain the watchdog positions of chief ethics officer and chief privacy officer for five years."

3 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Re:A more fashionable solution! by Whiney+Mac+Fanboy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Such are the consequences of giving human rights to corporations.

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    There are shills on slashdot. Apparently, I'm one of them.
  2. Re:Buying injustice... by wannabgeek · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I really think this is an injustice for the people who had their identities and privacy compromised, and for HP shareholders in the long run.

    Well, the shareholders do not seem to mind. In fact, the market is relieved that their company got away so lightly.

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    I'm much more funny, interesting and insightful than the moderators think
  3. Re:A more fashionable solution! by Luscious868 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    This settlement gets HP to admit to wrongdoing, puts some measures in place (pathetic though they may be) to try and keep them from doing it again, and not only saves the state money, but gives them a warchest to go after the real villains in this case: the executives who felt that the shield of incorporation gave them the right to condone and engage in unethical behavior.

    No, they engaged in illegal behavior. Not everything that is unethical is illegal. See our current political system and the campaign finance system that supports it. Tell me what is ethical about the fact that elected Senators and Congressman don't even bother to read most of the bills they vote on. They don't even write the bills anymore, their staffers do. You know, the same staffers who will eventually leave to take high paying jobs with lobbying firms after paying their dues writing bills that are friendly to the interest those lobbyist represent. Completely unethical, 100% legal.

    In fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see most of these five individuals get what amounts to a slap on the wrist after a large donation or two is made to the proper re-election campaign committees or PACs. Sure one of them will have the book thrown at them so it appears action is being taken. Probably the lowest person on the totem pole. Then, after the smoke clears from that conviction suddenly the state will find no compelling reason to drag these remaining cases out. The poor defendants will have been put through enough. A small fine and 6 months probation will suddenly be more than enough punishment. After all, their names will have already been drug through the mud. That punishment alone will have done more damage than anything they state could do. They will have learned their lessons. I can see it now. What a joke.