HP probed by spooks

MAKER OF printer ink, HP is being investigated by the FBI and the Department of Justice over its admission that it spied on its board members.

FBI Deputy Director John Pistole told the Associated Press that the bureau opened its probe yesterday.

One of the things it is interested in are the crimes of illegal computer intrusion and wiretapping. These would be a violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act. Even if HP can't be arrested for ‘pretexting', legal experts say there are shedloads of other crimes the Feds can chuck at HP. These include conspiracy-related charges that could trigger a minimum of five years imprisonment.

Things are moving against HP in the political sphere too. The House Energy and Commerce Committee said it was "troubled" by reports of HP's spying methods.

A letter, signed by two Republicans and two Democrats, has asked HP for the names of everyone involved and other data.

"The committee is troubled by this information, particularly given that it involves HP, one of America's corporate icons, using pretexting and data brokers to procure the personal telephone records of the members of its board of directors and of other individuals without their knowledge or consent," the letter said.

Leaders of the House Judiciary Committee penned a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist urging him to move legislation that would make HP's spying methods a federal crime. Meanwhile HP has not released any statement about the outcome of its board meeting yesterday, which was supposed to announce what the outfit was doing. There is talk that HP Chairman Patricia Dunn might be forced to step down.

The INQ understands that she has support from some board members who would be miffed if she went. IT has been revealed that the nine hacks whose phone records were compromised include Pui-Wing Tam and George Anders of The Wall Street Journal, Peter Burrows, Ben Elgin and Roger Crockett of BusinessWeek, John Markoff of The New York Times, and Dawn Kawamoto, Tom Krazit and Stephen Shankland of CNET.

More here and here. And of course, here as well. µ