phone hacking

noun

1. an act or instance of gaining access to a phone's voicemail, email, text messages, etc., without authorization from the phone's owner.

Other Words From

• phone hacker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of phone hacking¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Peppiatt is a former tabloid journalist — his 2011 resignation letter became a story unto itself — who made a 2014 satirical documentary, “One Rogue Reporter,” specifically about his decision to leave the industry amid the phone hacking and ethics scandals that were then rocking British media.

From Los Angeles Times

Prince Harry’s attorney accused Rupert Murdoch of knowing about News Group Newspapers’ alleged use of phone hacking and other illegal info-gathering tactics.

From Los Angeles Times

Back in 2014, Sir Keir was England and Wales’s chief prosecutor in the run-up to the trial of senior News International staff accused of phone hacking.

From BBC

"Although the Sun doesn't matter as much as it did - and sometimes thinks it still does - no-one really wants to be caught in its crosshairs," says Mr Baldwin, who was a senior adviser when Mr Miliband took on Rupert Murdoch over phone hacking.

From BBC

Phone hacking aside, the Sun and Sir Keir are not an obvious fit.

From BBC