#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.
Rebekah Brooks Defends Conduct at Leveson Inquiry
- Thursday, 30 July 2015
Rebekah Brooks, former chief executive of News International, appeared before the Leveson Inquiry to defend her role in the practices that led to the phone hacking scandal. Under intense questioning, Brooks denied any knowledge of illegal activity during her time as editor of The Sun and News of the World. She insisted she had never authorised or been aware of unlawful newsgathering methods. Brooks was also pressed on her close relationships with senior politicians and police officials, relationships critics argue contributed to a culture of inappropriate influence between the media and public institutions. Giving measured and cautious answers, Brooks rejected suggestions of wrongdoing and portrayed herself as a victim of events beyond her control. Her testimony marked a key moment in Lord Justice Leveson's examination of the culture, practices, and ethics of the British press.
