Posts Tagged ‘BlackBerry’

India: BlackBerry snooping system underway

April 11th, 2012

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) has given Indian security forces access to private instant messages. The move follows the setting up of a BlackBerry service centre in Mumbai last February, with official sources reporting that the interception of BlackBerry’s messenger service (BBM) messages will be used in cases where criminal activity is suspected. Law enforcement agents must first seek gain permission from the Home Ministry, before sending a request to the suspect’s operator or RIM for the data it needs. RIM has neither confirmed nor denied the reports.

India orders suspension of some mobile messaging services

February 22nd, 2011

Last week the Indian government ordered telecom operators to suspend all mobile messaging services that cannot be monitored by law enforcement agencies, citing national security reasons. The government had given Research In Motion (RIM), the BlackBerry’s Canadian manufacturer, until 31 January to provide it with access to encrypted data on BlackBerry Enterprise Server. RIM says it is unable to do so as it does not hold the keys to the encrypted data. Last year RIM had provided the government with the ability to monitor some of its other services including BlackBerry Messenger and email.

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Turkey: BlackBerry faces ban

October 27th, 2010

Research in Motion (RIM) faces a ban of BlackBerry data services in Turkey if it doesn’t obey new legislation requiring companies to hand over communication encryption keys to Information and Communication Technologies Authority. The new regulations aim at fighting terrorism and strive to make it possible for the country’s national security agency to tap into any suspect communications. Blackberry smartphones are preferred by many, as they are the only smartphones which use an encrypted e-mail system, offering the secure communication.

UAE: BlackBerry ban suspended

October 13th, 2010

A UAE regulator has withdrawn its threat to suspend BlackBerrys mobile communication services. In August, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority said it would ban BlackBerry’s messenger, e-mail and web-browser services on October 11.  It claimed BlackBerry’s use of internal encrypted networks raised national security concerns. Research in Motion (RIM), the Canadian maker of BlackBerry entered negotiations and the regulator has now determined that Blackberry has become “compliant” with UAE law. RIM has refused to specify any of their concessions. They are thought to have granted some access to communications passed between devices to the government. The authorities in India, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Lebanon have expressed similar reservations.

BlackBerry to allow Indian government limited access

September 2nd, 2010

Smartphone message monitoring may be necessary for governments, but it should not turn to mere snooping, says Salil Tripathi
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India sets BlackBerry utlimatum

August 12th, 2010

The Indian government has told RIM, the Canadian manufaturers of BlackBerry mobile phones to either provide access to encryption or face a ban from 31 August onwards. The Indian government says the BES and messenger services pose a grave security concern. India has one of the largest growing markets for BlackBerry users.

Kuwait: Ban pornographic sites on BlackBerry

August 3rd, 2010

Kuwait has asked BlackBerry’s Canadian maker RIM to block pornographic sites though they will not suspend the messenger services like their Gulf neighbours. RIM have agreed to block 3,000 porn sites and have promised to do so by the end of this year.

UAE: BlackBerry ban is a sign of elite’s unease

August 3rd, 2010


The leaders of the Emirates are nervous of an Iranian-style uprising, says Christopher Davidson
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