SABEW statement on Hewlett-Packard pretexting

The Society of American Business Editors and Writers, a trade group representing 3,500 financial journalists, is outraged that any company would stoop to unethical — if not illegal — means to gain access to a reporter’s telephone records.

According to news reports, Hewlett-Packard officials hired private investigators to learn who talked to the media about board decision-making. These investigators, according to the reports, reportedly stole journalists’ identities in an attempt to learn if certain reporters had talked with Hewlett-Packard insiders.

Such actions have a chilling effect on the journalistic process and thereby do harm to the public, investors and all of us who rely on the free flow of information. Such actions also compromise a reporter’s ability to talk freely with sources. Sources in sensitive situations may fear retribution if their bosses, or other possible adversaries, could easily steal the phone records of inquiring reporters.

In addition, H-P’s actions raise serious questions about the privacy and security practices at phone companies. In an age of concern about identity theft, the ease with which records were compromised is something that journalists ought to explore much more deeply.

Journalists possess the same rights as any other citizens when it comes to the protection of their personal information. In addition, reporters’ notes, phone records and conversations with their sources are protected in many states — including California, where H-P is headquartered — from searches or review even by law enforcement agencies.

California’s Attorney General has publicly stated that a practice known as “pretexting” — faking a person’s identity to gain their personal information — violates state privacy laws. If that is the case, SABEW hopes violators face the full force of the law.

“Pretexting” thefts are a true threat to all Americans’ personal privacy. Hewlett-Packard’s actions have shown that “pretexting” is also a threat to the freedom of the press.