By Kevin McCauley
Sky News, which is partly owned by News Corp., said today that it hacked email messages at least twice while investigating a story.
The satellite broadcaster defended its activity, claiming that it served the public interest.
John Ryley, head of Sky News, said management authorized a journalist to hack people’s emails because they were suspected of criminal activity.
In the statement, Ryley said Sky News stands by its decision as editorially justified and in the public interest. Sky News does not “take such decisions lightly or frequently.”
The company has launched a full investigation into the hacking incidents.
News Corp.’s BSkyB owns a 39 percent stake in SkyNews. James Murdoch, News Corp.’s deputy COO and son of chief Rupert, stepped down as chairman of BSkyB earlier this week.
He made that decision to separate BSkyB from the phone hacking scandal at the now defunct News of the World tabloid.
The Murdochs are expected to be called for a return visit to London for more testimony about the hacking scandal..
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