Ex-Daily Mail editor claims phone numbers was low on Richter scale of unlawfulness'

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"The former editor of the Daily Mail has claimed that journalists obtaining ex-directory phone numbers would have been very, very low on the Richter scale of unlawfulness. It is one of several methods of unlawful information gathering that Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL) is alleged to have commissioned, with Paul Dacre claiming it may well have been public interest in obtaining phone numbers, if it was a way to offer someone a right of reply."

"Taking questions from David Sherborne, who represents seven high-profile names suing ANL, Mr Dacre was asked if he had been aware that enquiry agents had obtained ex-directory numbers and supplied them to his journalists. The 77-year-old, who is now editor-in-chief of ANL's holding company DMG Media, said he did not know if this was legal or not, but if it had been unlawful, it would have been low on the Richter scale."

The Independent covers reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech while producing investigations and documentaries such as 'The A Word' and probing Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC financials. The outlet operates without paywalls and solicits donations to fund reporters on the ground and to reach audiences across the political spectrum. Associated Newspapers Ltd faces allegations of unlawful information gathering, including commissioning enquiry agents to obtain ex-directory phone numbers. Paul Dacre, now editor-in-chief of DMG Media, said obtaining such numbers would have been very low on the Richter scale of unlawfulness and that he ceased using private investigators in April 2007 after concerns arose.

Read at www.independent.co.uk