View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
May 18, 2006updated 22 Nov 2022 7:23pm

Info chief’s jail threat to journalists on secrets

By Press Gazette

Information Commissioner Richard Thomas has called for the jailing of journalists who buy secret information, in a crackdown which he has said could affect hundreds of reporters.

He said current fines under the Data Protection Act are too lax and has called for jail sentences of up to two years.

But the NUJ and the Society of Editors have both urged him to bear in mind that journalists exposing wrong doing should be exempt.

Thomas this week presented a report to Parliament which “reflects a deep concern that confidential information can too easily be obtained improperly from public and private organisations, causing significant harm and distress to individuals”.

Thomas wants to target those illegally buying and selling personal information such as addresses, ex-directory telephone numbers, call records, criminal records and bank account details.

In a statement, his office said: “Information is usually obtained by making payments to staff or impersonating the target individual or another official. Some victims are in the public eye; others are entirely private citizens.”

It added: “The ultimate buyers of illegally obtained personal information include journalists, financial institutions and local authorities wishing to trace debtors, estranged spouses seeking details of their ex-partner’s whereabouts or finances and criminals intent on fraud or witness or juror intimidation.”

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Thomas said that in one major case, investigated by his office, records had been found of secret information being sold to 305 named journalists from a range of newspapers.

He said that in “Operation Motorman” his officers searched the premises of a private detective in Hampshire and found that he had used associates to obtain information illegally about BT accounts and DVLA records.

Thomas said that the detective’s customers included the media and especially newspapers.

He said: “At a time when senior members of the press were publicly congratulating themselves for having raised journalistic standards across the industry, many newspapers were continuing to subscribe to an undercover economy devoted to obtaining personal information forbidden to them by the law.”

NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said: “It must be understood that there are times when a journalist must use exceptional means to investigate important matters where all other methods have been exhausted, and he or she should not be punished for this if the public interest is clearly being served.

“All of our members agree to abide by our code of conduct when they join the union and they know that we will not condone any action that does not comply with it. We also have an Ethics Committee that keeps these issues under constant review.”

Bob Satchwell, director of the Society of Editors, said: “Editors and journalists should always obey the law – but there should be room for interpretation based on the fact that it would be wrong for the law to stop journalists from exposing wrong doing.”

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network