The Guardian view on Prince Harry and phone hacking: the ethical issues endure | Editorial

FOr the publishers of The Sun, “sorry” is not the hardest word, but it is an expensive word. Rupert Murdoch’s newspaper group published “A complete and unequivocal apologyPrince Harry was charged with “serious interference” with his private life, including “unlawful activities.” For the first time I confess That these were carried out by people working at the Sun – albeit private investigators, not journalists – in addition to an apology for phone hacking, surveillance and the misuse of private information by staff at the News of the World, which Closed due to scandal.

The prince was paid huge damages, adding to the Murdoch empire’s total bill to settle some 1,300 cases, which is believed to have exceeded £1 billion. Prince Harry He has also previously received compensation from Mirror Group newspapers.

Money is not the goal for phone hacking victims. Prince Harry has received a welcome admission of wrongdoing. But, even though he described the settlement As justification In the statement read by his lawyer, he relieves senior executives — many of whom still hold powerful positions in the industry — of the duty to explain themselves to a judge.

Many of those who settled earlier would have preferred to go to trial. They were deterred by the financial burden and the risk of devastating legal costs. This painful calculation was made clear by Hugh Grant, the actor and press regulation activist, when he said: He settled his case himself last year. A plaintiff who refuses to settle could be liable to pay the other party’s costs, even in the event of victory, if the damages awarded are less than the amount previously offered. Mr Grant said he could have been faced with a bill of more than £10 million. The prince had described himself as the last person who could ensure accountability, positioning himself as an unlikely hero for ordinary people against the power of the media. Some may feel that the latter won by avoiding trial.

Most victims of illegal press intrusion were not Hollywood stars or members of the monarchy. Anyone with any connection to a celebrity – friends, family, or former partners – may be targeted for hacking. These were not victimless crimes. People have become anxious and terrified. Relationships were destroyed.

While high-profile cases tend to involve famous names, it’s worth noting the Guardian story that turned hacking into an issue National scandal: Murdoch’s News of the World agency intercepted messages on a phone belonging to Milly Dowler, a schoolgirl who was murdered in March 2002. The subsequent outrage led to a police investigation, the arrest of dozens, and a handful of people Convictions A public inquiry led by Sir Brian Leveson. The organization of the press was reformed Post-LevesonAlthough not exactly as the report recommended. This process raised public awareness of how poor practices were widespread in some Fleet Street newsrooms. The industry’s reputation continues to suffer.

While Wednesday’s agreement ended a long legal battle, the prince and his co-claimant, Tom Watson, who also received an apology, called on police and parliament to investigate. Lord Watson, the former Labor deputy leader, says he has sent a file to the Metropolitan Police. Although the media landscape has been completely transformed since the beginning of the saga, the moral core of the scandal is the pattern of irresponsibility in vast media institutions (or indeed technology) and the sense of impunity they enjoy as a function of wealth and power. – It is definitely more important than ever.

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