Goodman admitted hacking into the phones 487
times in just one eight month spell ending in June of last year. He
was sentenced to four months in prison.
Goodman breached the Regulation of
Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), committing a criminal offence.
Some of the tactics used by Goodman's associate, footballer turned
private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, would also have been likely to
breach the Data Protection Act. Mulcaire was also jailed for
offences under RIPA.
The case comes in the wake of calls from
Information Commissioner Richard Thomas for tougher penalties for
journalists who invade people's privacy. Thomas wants people who
breach the Data Protection Act to face two years in jail. Currently
there can be no jail term because those activities are not criminal
acts.
"The current very low penalties under the Data
Protection Act for 'blagging' offences which do not involve
telecoms interception are not a sufficient deterrent to stop the
widespread illegal trade in personal information," said Thomas in
the aftermath of Goodman's sentencing.
"Tougher sanctions are required to deter those
who obtain financial, health, criminal and similar records through
impersonation and similar means. I repeat my call for a maximum two
year prison sentence for people who commit the existing crime under
the Data Protection Act of unlawfully obtaining or selling people's
personal information," he said.
Thomas recently published a report which
listed the newspapers that he believes are breaking the law in
pursuit of stories. One investigations agency was raided and it was
revealed that broadsheet newspapers and magazines were as serious
offenders as tabloid papers in the illegal obtaining of
information. The Daily Mail topped the list, which also included
The Observer and The Sunday Times.
Goodman listened to voicemail messages on
aides' phones and was able to break stories about Princes William
and Harry. Palace officials became suspicious when stories were
written that could not have been leaked in any other manner, such
as medical details regarding one of the prince's knee injury.
