How NGN's illegal practices led to 1.2 Billion in Settlements and 10 Million for Prince Harry

Privacy Navigator: Weekly Insights on Privacy, AI, and Compliance

In a settlement that shook the foundations of British media, Prince Harry's five-year battle against News Group Newspapers (NGN) concluded with an unprecedented admission of wrongdoing and a substantial financial settlement. This case exposed decades of systematic privacy violations.
The Origins: A Pattern of Intrusion
The story begins in 1996, during Harry's teenage years, when NGN's publications - The Sun and News of the World - embarked on what would later be revealed as a systematic campaign of privacy intrusion. For 15 years, between 1996 and 2011, the publications employed over 100 private investigators who conducted more than 35,000 investigations.
The Scale of Violations
Methods of Intrusion:

• Phone hacking
• Surveillance operations
• Misuse of private information
• Employment of private investigators

The violations extended beyond Harry himself, reaching into the private life of his late mother, Princess Diana, creating a multi-generational pattern of privacy breaches.
The Legal Battle
In 2019, Harry initiated legal proceedings against NGN, presenting evidence of over 200 articles containing illegally obtained information. This case formed part of a broader strategy, alongside successful actions against Mirror Group Newspapers and ongoing litigation with Associated Newspapers.
The Settlement's Significance
The January 2025 settlement marked several unprecedented developments:

• First-ever admission of wrongdoing by The Sun newspaper
• Full acknowledgment of "unlawful activities" by private investigators
• Recognition of intrusion into Princess Diana's private life
• Agreement to pay with legal costs estimated around £10 million
• Prince Harry was awarded legal costs and £140,000 in damages, which are non material by their nature

Corporate Cover-up Allegations
Perhaps most damaging were the allegations of systematic cover-ups at the corporate level. Harry and co-claimant Tom Watson alleged that NGN:

• Destroyed 30 million emails and other records
• Engaged in perjury at the highest levels
• Orchestrated an extensive conspiracy to conceal wrongdoing

And Justice For All (1300 cases)
This case goes far beyond a personal victory for Prince Harry. While he stands as the driving force who exposed these malicious practices and brought them to justice—at least in part—it’s important to remember the broader impact. Over 1,300 claims have now been settled by NGN, with the total cost surpassing £1.2 billion. Harry’s efforts have not only shed light on these wrongdoings but also paved the way for accountability on an unprecedented scale.
Final Thoughts
I follow and analyze a lot of privacy news, including countless fines for violations, but this case stands out as monumental. The sheer duration of these illegal activities is staggering—and in many instances, they’re still happening.
There’s always a delicate balance between free expression and privacy, but in this case, that line wasn’t just crossed—it was obliterated. And, as always, money plays a role. People crave the secrets of celebrities, and wherever there’s an audience, there’s profit, often at any cost.
But this isn’t a gray area. It’s as black and white as it gets: hacking phones, spying, surveillance—it doesn’t take a legal expert to know this is fundamentally wrong.
That’s why it’s reassuring to see justice served, even partially, to those affected. This case proves that even against corporate giants, we must continue to defend privacy and uphold the principles that lead to a better, fairer society.

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