whats going on with UK's news of the world?

[gunsmith]

can someone explain? it looks like drudge is simply celebrating the downfall of rupurt murdoch ...

who was hacked? why is this story so important?

[Bogie]

If I understand correctly, management, to the top level, condoned use of wiretaps (which must have been something to orchestrate) on targeted individuals.

[Northwoods]

I thought they'd hacked some girl's cell phone when she'd been reported missing (and later turned up dead).

Anyway, that's the same tabloid that did the sting on Max Mosley (then president of the FIA) a few years ago catching paying for S&M sessions.

[Viking]

I thought they'd hacked some girl's cell phone when she'd been reported missing (and later turned up dead).

Anyway, that's the same tabloid that did the sting on Max Mosley (then president of the FIA) a few years ago catching paying for S&M sessions.

That was merely one case in the lot, they've been wiretapping celebs, soldiers, (royals?), family of soldiers, family of victims in the 7/7 bombings and others.

[TechMan]

From what I heard, for multiple years they had be hacking into phones and bribing police to get their information.  Advertisers pulled out en mass and News Corp shut them down, since old Murdoch is wanting to by Sky News and doesn't want this scandal holding up the deal.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/07/09/general-broadcasting-amp-entertainment-eu-britain-phone-hacking_8556776.html

[Cromlech]

who was hacked? why is this story so important?

The phones of murder victims, deceased soldiers, and others.

[gunsmith]

that is pretty creepy!

[agricola]

Basically the NOTW got caught doing what all of the tabloid papers were doing:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/31/press-privacy-information-commmissioner
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jul/08/news-international-lifting-the-veil

Though I should also state that the staggering hypocrisy on show from Labour (who were in charge when all this went on, and who were deeply embedded in Rupert's puckered behind for far longer than Cameron ever was, and who actually employ (as their Director of Strategy) an ex-Murdoch journalist who did everything that the NOTW is accused of doing) is probably worthy of some sort of award in itself.

[Hawkmoon]

Basically the NOTW got caught doing what all of the tabloid papers were doing:

Ah.

Espousing the post-Watergate legal theory often advanced on "gun" forums when discussing whether or not to carry into places where it is illegal to do so: "It's only illegal if I get caught."

Whenever I encounter expressions of such notions, I find myself wondering if the writer understands what "illegal" means, and if he really means what he wrote.

[230RN]

I'm constantly amazed at how many people think that if it isn't illegal, it must be ethical.