HP considered placing spies in the offices of US
newswires and newspapers as part of its attempt to plug media leaks
from its boardroom.
The New York Times reported that the company looked at the
possibility of placing investigators acting as clerical staff or
cleaners at the news outlets’ offices, which included those of the
Wall Street Journal.
The plants could then try to find out where the leaks were
coming from.
The New York Times said the plan was considered by senior HP
staff at the beginning of the year when they were presented with a
feasibility study on the operation.
The paper, which has learned of the plan from someone with
knowledge of the HP spying operation, said it is not known whether
HP and its outside investigators sanctioned the planting of fake
clerical staff or cleaners at the targeted offices.
HP chairman Patricia Dunn, who helped oversee the company’s
attempts to stop the media leaks, has already agreed to step down
as chairman in January, following the fall-out from the
scandal.
Two other HP directors have also resigned from the board,
including one who admitted to being involved in the media
leaks.
Dunn and another senior HP employee have been asked to appear
before a US House Committee to explain their roles in the affair
later this month.
California state prosecutors said they have evidence to press
charges against HP employees over the spying, which saw outside
investigators working for the company accessing the phone records
of targeted individuals without their permission.
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