Chart: HP in the hot seat
Here's a rundown of the agencies investigating HP's methods of tracking down a "leaker" on its board.
Chart: HP in the hot seat
By CNET News.com Staff
Published: September 11, 2006, 4:20 PM PDT
The computer maker is the target of a number of probes into the methods it used to uncover a "leaker" on its board.
| Agency | Status of investigation | Potential authority | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Attorney General | Actively investigating, has issued at least one search warrant. | Has said it is looking into potential felony charges under two state laws one prohibiting the unauthorized use of data and the other prohibiting unauthorized use of personal information. | |
| U.S. Attorney, Northern District of California | Is "requesting information similar to that sought by the California Attorney General," HP said in a regulatory filing earlier this month. The U.S. Attorney and FBI have said they are investigating, but have not offered specifics. | Could be looking into various statutes, including the Federal Computer
Fraud and Abuse Act or the | |
| House Committee on Energy and Commerce | Scheduled a Sept. 28 hearing and has received thousands of documents related to the HP probe. Has called on more than a half-dozen people to appear, including HP's chairman and general counsel, who HP has said will appear. | Has congressional oversight over telecommunications and the Internet Committee had already been looking into the issue of obtaining confidential records using false pretenses. | CEO Mark Hurd said he will also make himself available for questioning at the hearing. |
| Securities and Exchange Commission | Has sent HP a letter regarding its May 22 disclosure of director Thomas Perkins' resignation. Has authority over publicly traded companies. | Has authority over publicly traded companies. | Requires additional disclosure when a board member leaves due to a dispute with the company. |
| Federal Communications Commission | unclear | Has authority under section 222 of the Telecommunications Act to oversee carriers' role in protecting customer information. Could explore whether AT&T and other carriers adequately protected customer information. | |
| Federal Trade Commission | unclear | Has authority under Section 5 of the act that created the FTC. | The FTC has initiated civil enforcement actions against entities accused of obtaining phone records illegally. Earlier this year the agency charged five Web-based operations with violating federal law for selling telephone records |