UK Attorney Says Tabloid Hacked Up to 7,000 People's Phone Messages; Big-Bucks Cases Expected
A tabloid newspaper in the United Kingdom could be exposed to as much as $70 million in potential damages claims after hacking into voicemail messages for as many as 7,000 people between 2004 and 2006, according to a plaintiff’s lawyer and other observers.
Charlotte Harris, a partner at Mishcon de Reya, told a BBC Radio program that “a huge amount of people” could have had their messages intercepted by staffers of the News of the World, reports the Independent.
However, she added, “We haven’t even got near the truth yet.”
The newspaper has apologized for “unacceptable” interception of voicemails. But the number of messages to which it gained unauthorized access apparently has not yet been conclusively determined.
A criminal investigation by Metropolitan Police in London is continuing.
Hat tip: Media Matters for America
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “As Probe Widens, Lawyer Says Celebrities Can’t Prove Tabloid’s Investigator Hacked Voice Mail”
Independent: “News of the World apologises to hacking victims”
