I didn't think the Hewlett-Packard spying scandal could get any worse ... but it has.

The New York Times, which broke news earlier this week about an attempt to place tracing software on a journalist's computer -- see my Sept. 18 post -- today had this revelation:

Hewlett-Packard conducted feasibility studies on planting spies in news bureaus of two major publications as part of an investigation of leaks from its board, an individual briefed on the company's review of the operation said yesterday.

The studies, referred to in a Feb. 2 draft report for a briefing of senior management, are said to have included the possibility of placing investigators acting as clerical employees or cleaning crews in the San Francisco offices of CNET and The Wall Street Journal.

It is not clear whether the plan described in the documents, which were read to a reporter, was ever acted upon.

There's not much more to be said about this. The facts speak for themselves.

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