behind the news

Spies in the Newsroom

More revelations from the investigation of HP's attempt to spy on journalists have some bloggers looking for the bigger story.
September 20, 2006

This morning, Damon Darlin and Kurt Eichenwald of the New York Times revealed more evidence that Hewlett-Packard had “conducted feasibility studies on planting spies in news bureaus of two major publications as part of an investigation of leaks from its board.” The news followed an earlier piece by Newsweek revealing that HP chairwoman, Patricia Dunn, had hired a team of electronic-security detectives to spy on HP board members and journalists from the Wall Street Journal and CNET. HP has announced Dunn’s resignation, which is set for this coming January.

Across the Internet, bloggers’ reactions were mixed.

“I predict a real investigation into the incident,” writes Bruce Schneier of Schneier on Security. “I’m amazed there isn’t more outcry. Pretexting, planting Trojans…this is the sort of thing that would get a ‘hacker’ immediately arrested. But if the chairman of the HP board does it, suddenly it’s a gray area.”

Others expressed sympathy for Dunn’s actions. “Dunn’s concern for media leaks was completely justified, although a little overblown perhaps,” writes Brian White of the investment blog, Blogging Stocks. “Are leaks to the media in this day and age so prevalent that Wall Street’s myopic short-term vision can be heightened sharply when ‘exclusives’ come along that the general public does not know about? …With Dunn being a corporate governance expert, it’s easy to understand why she was so specific on eliminating possible sources of corruption and being a detail freak about governance at the same time.”

In the meantime, HP insiders claim to have the real lowdown on the scandal.

“This is only part of the story,” claims ProgressiveRule at Democrats.com. “As a recent employee of HP, I can attest their spying methods did not just occur at the board member level but at all levels. HP had acquired methods of performing domestic eavesdropping tactics via subcontractors and or the mob to intimidate their employees. We can attest that our house had been broken into and eavesdropping had occurred. This was an urgent matter for us to report. The company used tactics of extortion to intimidate and manipulate their employees for political and monetary purposes. This is another example how the republican neo-con agenda has apparently given some sectors of Corporate America the idea that they can play big brother too. I encourage all Americans who work for these corporations not [to] participate in these corrupt schemes. But to report them and bring them out.”

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Another blogger, who had once upon a time worked with Dunn, expressed surprise at the recent revelations. “My memories of working for Ms. Dunn are slightly vague since so many years have passed, but I do remember that she was an excellent communicator, was impeccably dressed and was very smart,” reminisces Escape From Cubicle Nation. “As a fresh-faced 20-something, not yet jaded by what I would learn about corporate life, I found her story inspiring and encouraging. On a personal basis, she was always kind and polite…But this latest fiasco just leaves me baffled and sad.”

Finally, one blogger felt bad for previously referring to Dunn as a “cancer.” “A CEO and reader of mine…wrote me this morning and said I was over the top to call Patricia Dunn a “cancer” on HP,” confesses Scobleiezer. “She said that was a particularly hurtful comment given that Patricia has had cancer in the past. I’ve been thinking about it all day and I’ve decided that my reader is right. That was a hurtful comment.”

“It’s not that I feel any differently about Patricia and the board’s actions over the past two weeks,” adds the blogger. “But, I did play an awful card there, and for that I’m sorry.”

Mark Boyer was a CJR intern.