HCL denies allegations by News International regarding data erasure
In an unexpected turn of events, Labour backbencher Tom Watson made a statement under parliamentary privilege during yesterday's emergency House of Commons debate on alleged phone hacking by the News of the World newspaper. Watson alleged that data was stored locally at the HCL storage facility in Chennai, India.
However, HCL Technologies, the IT company outsourced by News International since 2009, has categorically refuted Watson's allegation. The company, which does not store any of its customers' data locally, has also stated that it is impossible for any data held by them to have been destroyed.
HCL Technologies has been cooperating with the Metropolitan Police at the request of News International for the past two months. However, the collaboration was terminated due to alleged concerns over data security and trust issues.
Watson suggested that News International chairman Mr James Murdoch and former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks should be asked whether they knew of the attempted destruction of data at the HCL storage facility in Chennai, India. Any suggestion of data destruction held by HCL Technologies is considered misleading, according to the company.
In response, HCL Technologies has confirmed that it does not store any data in the UK or anywhere else in the world. The company's stance remains that it does not store any of its customers' data locally, contradicting Watson's allegation.
Due to ongoing investigations and client confidentiality, HCL Technologies cannot provide further details on this matter at this stage. The debate surrounding the alleged phone hacking by the News of the World newspaper continues to unfold, with Watson's allegations against HCL Technologies adding a new layer of complexity to the ongoing saga.
