HP under SEC scrutiny for leak probe scandal

HP has disclosed that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has moved ahead with a formal inquiry into the company's controversial investigatory practices.

The company said in a regulatory filing with the SEC: "HP has been informed that the Securities and Exchange Commission has issued a formal order of investigation in its inquiry." HP also said it has "received a request from the Federal Communications Commission for records and information relating to those leak investigations".

Got two seconds?

Make your voice heard - take our latest poll.

The company has already been under scrutiny from a variety of corners with regard to the tactics used during the company's investigation into the unauthorised release of information to the media. As part of that probe, investigators hired by HP obtained phone records for more than a dozen people using false pretences, a practice known as 'pretexting'.

In addition, investigators also employed physical surveillance and HP has said it sent a false email tip with an electronic tracer to a CNET News.com reporter.

HP said in September that it had received an additional request for information from the SEC but, until Thursday, the company had not yet noted it was the subject of a formal inquiry.

The company would not say when it learned from the SEC that its inquiry had been made formal. An HP spokesman said: "We're not providing the date of when the request was received.

"We do not believe this represents an escalation or broadening of the investigation and are continuing to co-operate fully."

Ina Fried writes for CNET News.com