"Evidence of a widespread and organized undercover market"
What did they know and when did they know it? Certainly right after this 2006 report; probably well before the report was released. It named media organizations as the prime consumers for illegally obtained private information. The report states:
"Journalists have a voracious demand for personal information, especially at the popular end of the market. The more information they reveal about celebrities or anyone remotely in the public eye, the more newspapers they can sell." (p. 19)
How extensive was the market among journalists for illegally obtained private information?
"This mass of evidence documented literally thousands of section 55 offenses, and added many more identifiable reporters supplied with information, bringing the total to some 305 named journalists." (p. 19)
This was from the sample of information peddlers reviewed for the report. There were many more according to the researchers.
By mid-2006, London had a robust market for private information, illegally obtained personal information. The information crack houses were visited by journalists who used the material for their own aggrandizement. The police were keenly aware of all of this since they participated in the investigation and recommendations with the Office of the Information Commissioner.
The report concludes with this recommendation (emphasis from report):
"The Information Commissioner recommends that the Press Complaints Commission (and its associated Code of Practice Committee of Editors) should take a much stronger line to tackle any involvement by the press in the illegal trade in personal information. Following publication of this report the Commissioner proposes to raise the issue again with the PCC and will be asking for firm proposals within six months." (p. 34)
As this investigation proceeds and you hear people in the UK or the United States minimizing the process of illegal surveillance, claiming that they didn't know it was a problem, recall this report. It isn't about two convicted phone hackers or a couple of bad journalists. It documents hundreds of journalists who purchased illegal information at illegal information brokers across London, a fact well known to the police.
This was known all along. The Murdoch crew isn't alone, although there are plenty of reasons to think that they are the worst abusers. News Corporation is about more than newspapers, television stations, and other media properties. It's a way of life for any nation that it dominates politically with its demeaning, bizarre agenda of paranoia and mistrust. They are a very good first hurdle to creating an honest debate and, at the very least, the possibility of solutions to our significant challenges.
END
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