Byline Investigates published a report that revealed how a private investigator was paid by British tabloid The Sun to dig up the private information of Meghan Markle.
Daniel Hanks, a private detective based in Los Angeles, claims he used unlawful means to compile a dossier on Meghan in 2016 that included her phone number, addresses and social security number.
He told the BBC: “Pretty much everything I found out they could find out themselves using legal means – with the exception of the social security numbers.
“When you have that information … it's the key to the kingdom.”
But the publisher of The Sun said “at no time” did it request the Duchess of Sussex’s social security number and said the information obtained was not used “for any unlawful practice”.
Mr Hanks, now retired, worked as a private investigator for more than 40 years gathering information on celebrities. He has been jailed four times, including in 2017 for extortion, the BBC said.
Responding to the story, Meghan and Harry said in a statement: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex feel that today is an important moment of reflection for the media industry and society at large, as this investigative report shows that the predatory practices of days past are still ongoing, reaping irreversible damage for families and relationships.
They are grateful to those working in media who stand for upholding the values of journalism, which are needed now more than ever before.”
Prince Harry is currently suing The Sun and The Daily Mirror on unrelated charges of phone hacking.
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