HP used AT&T to surveill its board members One resigns over it.

[caligirl]

AT&T seems to bend and break the rules for some besides idiot son.

So much for the HP way.

Hewlett-Packard, long known for its open and egalitarian corporate structure, is making headlines today for an astonishing lapse in judgement that may forever tarnish the the core values established by its founders some 50 years ago. According to reports, HP Chairwoman Patri cia Dunn ordered the surveillance of HP board members in an effort to out a director who was leaking information to the news media. On her sayso, a team of security consultants gathered board members' private telephone records and used them to finger longtime HP director George Keyworth as the source of the leaks. Dunn outed Keyworth and demanded his resignation at a May 18 meeting which quickly went bad when she revealed her surveillance scheme. (Keyworth will not be renominated to the company's board.) Enraged at Dunn's methods, well-known venture capitalist Tom Perkins abruptly quit the board and stormed out of the meeting. HP announced his resignation the next day, but without explanation. Since then, Perkins has been after HP to make a full and accurate report of the circumstances surrounding his departure. HP refused, so Perkins forced its hand, going public in an irate letter to company directors attached to which was a memo from AT&T's general attorney confirming an unauthorized review of his phone records. "As the Company failed to make a full and accurate report (as required by federal law) and having given the Company several opportunities to correct the record, I am now legally obliged to disclose publicly the reasons for my resignation," Perkins wrote. "This is a very sad duty. My history with the Hewlett-Packard Company is long and I have been privileged to count both founders as close friends. I consider HP to be an icon of Silicon Valley, and one of the great companies of the world. It now needs, urgently, to correct its course."


http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/business/columnists/gmsv/15451595.htm

[redqueen]

1. I'm sure it was all in the interest of national security.

Protecting you from terrorists, she was.


What? It seems to be working for Bu$hCo!

[MrModerate]

2. Carly Fiorina wrecked the company and its reputation . . .

a few years ago. Having this happen amidst the wreckage of a once-great company is sad but unsurprising.

[caligirl]

8. It strayed off course 15 years ago, folks who worked there in the 80's

saw the changes. My husband was there in the 90's and we were told then it had strayed way beyond what the founders had established in terms of employee treatment by management.

[Sherman A1]

3. Oh I see big lawsuit in future.

Might be time to dump HP Stock, if you have any.

[rodeodance]

4. so, why have they not all resigned? The ends justifies the means mentality

is spreading.

[mcscajun]

10. Two words: interlocking boards.

the Network must be preserved. :sarcasm:

At least ONE director took his responsibilities seriously.

[MADem]

5. Those fuckers at A T and T don't let anything get in their way, do they?

Of course, it's so easy for anyone to buy phone records...there's no privacy inherent in making a phone call, unless you buy one of those tosser phones and pay cash for it.

[Supersedeas]

9. they have made it clear the Customer Privacy is not a priority

[DemInDistress]

6. I will never buy or recommend any HP products not that I do but

still this is an outrage to me. Did he leak company secrets (trade secrets) ?


Can a boycott be helpful?

[TomInTib]

7. I wonder how many more of these are out there. nt

[elehhhhna]

11. Tip. Of. The. Iceberg. Cue the band.