Vodafone turns self in to cops over journo phone records hack

Vodafone's Australian outpost has had a change of heart and will co-operate with local authorities, after it admitted that an employee had trawled through a journalist's text messages and call records. As we reported over the weekend, in 2011 Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) was the subject of media reports suggesting …

[AndyS]

There's a nice irony about the exact security flaw being reported, then being used against the journalist who reported it. I would have expected the journalist to expect that though, and get a phone from another provider before investigating? Maybe she was actually hoping this would happen, just to prove the point and multiply the story.

On Vodaphone's part, this whole episode seems spectacularly stupid, like a drunk man who just caused an accident shouting "I'M PERFECTLY CALM!!1!" Um, you just proved the point.

[Anonymous Coward]

Just one, simple question..

Current VHA management is taking this matter extremely seriously and is reporting it to NSW Police and Australian Federal Police

What I would really want to know is why the police did not start an investigation as soon as this became public. Since when do those who break the law need to invite the fuzz before something happens?

I would be rather interested in the answer to that. Are they asleep at the wheel? Not interested? Were they told to keep out of it, and if so, by who?

[AndyS]

Re: Just one, simple question..

Over here (UK), it's quite rare for the police to initiate an investigation without some form of report, complaint or referral. So they can be aware of wrongdoing, but unless anyone complains to them, they will often do nothing about it.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Just one, simple question..

So they can be aware of wrongdoing, but unless anyone complains to them, they will often do nothing about it.

I have found that even WITH a complaint and copious evidence in hand to secure a conviction they won't get of their arses if it's not going to secure headlines. I found that out when HSBC actively collaborated with a thief to hand over the entire contents of our bank account by the simple expedience of illegally changing Companies House records. I would not recommend HSBC for small business.

[@havyatt]

Morrow

You mean distance themselves from NBN co CEO bill morrow