#PhoneHackingScandal
The Fall of a British Tabloid
#PhoneHackingScandal
The Fall of a British Tabloid
The News of the World phone hacking scandal was a major media and political controversy in the United Kingdom that came to light in the early 2000s and peaked in 2011. Journalists and private investigators working for the British tabloid were found to have illegally accessed the voicemails of celebrities, politicians, members of the royal family, and even victims of crime, most notably murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler. The revelation that the tabloid had deleted voicemails from Dowler’s phone sparked public outrage and led to the closure of the 168-year-old newspaper in July 2011. The scandal prompted multiple police investigations, high-profile arrests, and the Leveson Inquiry—a public investigation into press ethics and regulation. It exposed deep ethical failures within parts of the British press and raised serious concerns about media power and accountability.
Hugh Grant Charms Lib Dems with Phone Hacking Plea at Party Conference
- Sunday, 18 September 2011
Hugh Grant, known for his romantic comedies, appeared at a fringe event at the Lib Dem conference to discuss phone hacking. He charmed the crowd with his humorous and self-deprecating remarks, but also delivered a serious message about the need for politicians to take action on the issue. Grant questioned the use of the Official Secrets Act in the Operation Weeting inquiry and lambasted the tabloid press over invasion of privacy. He expressed hope that the Leveson inquiry would lead to changes and praised Lib Dem activists for their stance on the issue, while also saying he will attend conferences for all three main parties.
