Chart: HP in the hot seat

By CNET News.com Staff
Published: September 11, 2006, 4:20 PM PDT

The computer maker is the target of a number of probes into the methods it used to uncover a "leaker" on its board.

Agency	Status of investigation	Potential authority	Notes
California Attorney General	Actively investigating, has issued at least one search warrant.	Has said it is looking into potential felony charges under two state laws one prohibiting the unauthorized use of data and the other prohibiting unauthorized use of personal information.
U.S. Attorney, Northern District of California	Is "requesting information similar to that sought by the California Attorney General," HP said in a regulatory filing earlier this month. The U.S. Attorney and FBI have said they are investigating, but have not offered specifics.	Could be looking into various statutes, including the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act or the Gramm-Leach Bliley Act, though the latter addresses financial records.
House Committee on Energy and Commerce	Scheduled a Sept. 28 hearing and has received thousands of documents related to the HP probe. Has called on more than a half-dozen people to appear, including HP's chairman and general counsel, who HP has said will appear.	Has congressional oversight over telecommunications and the Internet Committee had already been looking into the issue of obtaining confidential records using false pretenses.	CEO Mark Hurd said he will also make himself available for questioning at the hearing.
Securities and Exchange Commission	Has sent HP a letter regarding its May 22 disclosure of director Thomas Perkins' resignation. Has authority over publicly traded companies.	Has authority over publicly traded companies.	Requires additional disclosure when a board member leaves due to a dispute with the company.
Federal Communications Commission	unclear	Has authority under section 222 of the Telecommunications Act to oversee carriers' role in protecting customer information. Could explore whether AT&T and other carriers adequately protected customer information.
Federal Trade Commission	unclear	Has authority under Section 5 of the act that created the FTC.	The FTC has initiated civil enforcement actions against entities accused of obtaining phone records illegally. Earlier this year the agency charged five Web-based operations with violating federal law for selling telephone records