HCL contradicts News International's allegation of data elimination

News Article: HCL Technologies Denies Data Destruction Allegations in Phone Hacking Scandal

In the ongoing phone hacking scandal involving the News of the World newspaper, IT outsourcing company HCL Technologies has issued a statement denying any involvement in data destruction.

The Indian firm, which took over the IT operations of News International in 2009, confirmed that it is impossible for there to be any data destruction held by them. HCL Technologies has been cooperating with the Metropolitan Police at the request of News International for the past two months.

The statement from HCL Technologies was made in response to some regrettable comments made over the last few days. Labour backbencher Tom Watson, during an emergency House of Commons debate on alleged phone hacking held yesterday, suggested that the police should question James Murdoch, the chairman of News International, and Rebekah Brooks, the former editor of the News of the World, about data destruction.

However, HCL Technologies does not address Watson's allegation about data storage at a facility in Chennai, India. The company states that they do not store any of their customers' data locally and any suggestion to the contrary is misleading. They also reiterate their full cooperation with the Metropolitan Police.

It is important to note that HCL Technologies is not the only IT firm involved in this saga. Prior to HCL Technologies, the Indian IT firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) took over the IT operations of News International in 2009; however, there is no publicly available, verifiable information indicating that TCS continues to provide search support to the Metropolitan Police.

As the investigation continues, HCL Technologies cannot go into further details on this matter due to ongoing investigations and client confidentiality. The company denies any data storage in the UK or anywhere else in the world.

The phone hacking scandal has been a major topic of discussion in British politics and media, with the News of the World at the centre of the controversy. The newspaper was closed down in 2011 following the revelations of illegal activities, including phone hacking and bribing police officers.

The debate over the role of IT firms in the phone hacking scandal is likely to continue as more information comes to light. As HCL Technologies continues to cooperate with the ongoing investigations, the public and the media will be watching closely to see if any new evidence emerges.