Wal-Mart’s disclosure that an employee was tapping phone conversations and text messages is drawing attention to a growth industry within corporate America — the business of keeping things secret.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. fired the employee, Bruce Gabbard, maintaining he acted alone and didn’t receive authorization to eavesdrop. Federal authorities are investigating.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Gabbard said he worked in an amply staffed unit whose mission was to shore up the walls around Wal-Mart’s internal data and communications, protecting them not just from Internet hackers but from leaks to company critics. He declined further comment when contacted this week by The Associated Press.
