The NOTW phone hacking: Milly Dowler and Hugh Grant Edition

[x_butterfly19_x]

Hugh Grant: 'News of the World investigator told to hack Milly Dowler phone'

Comments

[mirhanda]

How can anything be done when the police and the government are basically still looking the other way? I guess the royals don't want to do anything because they probably have lots of taped conversations of Charles wanting to be a tampon on hand to embarrass them again. What can be done when no one in charge has the guts to stand up?

[x_butterfly19_x]

I know. The authorities aren't doing anything because they were all complicit.

[mirhanda]

Do you think they'll do anything if the public outcry is great enough?

[x_butterfly19_x]

I suppose they'll have to.
Ed Miliband called for a public enquiry earlier today.

[evildevil]

spying on celebrities and politicians is one thing but the whole Dowlers family phone hacking is another, they went too far and anyone with a daughter can clearly project themselves in that same situation and they wont like it. It clearly demonstrate that if it would help them to sell paper anyone is fair target.

[mirhanda]

I think even celebrities and politicians have a right to have private conversations though. There's just no excuse for this to have happened to anyone, famous or not.

celebrities and politicians have a right to have private conversations though

[evildevil]

True, but it is difficult to move a public opinion who relishes from the embarrassing moments of powerful and wealthy individuals. While some believe that what it was done is wrong, I am sure many feel that at least they were only targeting a certain segment of the population and they feel secure that it would never happen to them. There is also the issue of people working behind the scenes trying to playdown the scandal so the damage can be minimal (corrupt police officers, willing politicians, etc. anyone who dirty their hands looking for protection from the backlash).

I am cynical but I know people love this kind of stuff, but when you add a family that is not wealthy, powerful, or a celebrity but just your average family and you see how horrific the situation has become, that is adding more fuel to the public anger and disgust to add extra pressure for someone to do something. Any less than that and the public backlash will be terrible.

Re: celebrities and politicians have a right to have private conversations though

[mirhanda]

Sad but true. People don't care when they feel it's just "those people" it's happening to. But when it happened to this family, at probably the worst time in their lives, I guess people realized that it could really happen to anyone. At least I hope so.

Re: celebrities and politicians have a right to have private conversations though

[x_butterfly19_x]

Hugh Grant said as much in one of his interviews - that this case wasn't getting as much attention because the victims were rich and/or powerful.

These revelations about the children have shaken it all up.

[mirhanda]

That's good. Hope something comes of it!