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The HP Saga: Focus on the AG


The WSJ adds to the HP saga today with new information about the progress of the California AG’s investigation, and some profile of the AG, Bill Lockyer. New details:

New details of the probe continue to emerge. In addition to scrutinizing phone records, people familiar with the matter say human and possibly video surveillance was involved; private investigators attended speeches by at least one of the company’s directors and followed this person to see if the board member met any journalists, they say. Ms. Dunn, in an e-mail to employees Tuesday, disclosed that two H-P employees had been investigated, as well as certain directors and “a number of individuals outside the company, including journalists.” An H-P spokesman declined to comment on the possible use of human and video surveillance, or to identify any people cited in Ms. Dunn’s email.

Additionally, more information on the likely charges:

Mr. Lockyer said yesterday that three state criminal statutes were involved in the investigation: illegally accessing and using computer data; accessing personal-identification information and using it for illegal purposes; and using deceit to obtain records from a utility, such as a phone company. Any of those crimes could be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, he said. A misdemeanor would carry a one-year maximum prison sentence, and a felony a three-year maximum term.

Update: CNet reports that two HP employees were also pretexted, and ominously, “a number of individuals outside the company, including journalists”.


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One Response to “The HP Saga: Focus on the AG”


  1. David Ong
    September 14th, 2006 at 13:18

    I used to work for HP in Cupertino as well as in HOng Kong.
    I watched this saga with interest.
    These personalities are so influential and powerful. Yet, to me they are mere human beings, beset by their own personal self-centred interest

    It seems that Mr. Perkins is winning with his high moral ground of
    highlighting a controversial investigations. I wonder if he would be so
    agitated if the leaker is not his personal friend?

    Ms. Dunn needs to pay the price for not knowing. The stakes are high indeed. Pleading innocence does not mean she is not responsible.

    The world got to see Mr. Sosini, HP counsel in a better light now. He is not the high up, untouchable representative of the Silicon Valley’s elitist law firm. He is as human as vulnerable as we all are.

    and the media, enjoy this kind of play, especially when their comrades’ privacy are being illegally invaded. Wonder if they also play a role in
    fostering this kind of atmosphere.

    So glad this is happening and so glad this is being reported in this free society.