The Guardian reported that the News of the World had hacked the voicemail of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler in 2002. The revelation turned a long-running phone hacking story into a national scandal.
What happened
- Prime Minister David Cameron called the allegations disgusting and announced a public inquiry, which became the Leveson Inquiry.
- News International announced on 7 July 2011 that the News of the World would close; its final edition appeared on 10 July.
- Police arrests followed, and News Corporation withdrew its bid to take full control of BSkyB.
- Two senior Metropolitan Police officers resigned amid criticism of earlier investigations.
Why it mattered
The scandal exposed how easily voicemail could be accessed and how personal information was obtained unlawfully, prompting lasting debate about privacy, press ethics, and data security in the UK. Several people were later convicted over phone hacking.
Lessons for organisations
Change default PINs and passwords on all devices and services, and check that suppliers and contractors handle personal information lawfully. Unlawful obtaining of personal data is a criminal offence under UK data protection law.
Source: Al Jazeera
Part of our Top stories archive of headline-making events in information security, privacy, and AI. If you would like help applying the lessons to your organisation, contact us.
