United Arab Emirates Pushes to Ban BlackBerry Access

United Arab Emirates threatened to block access to e-mail, web browsing and text messages on all BlackBerry’s including visitors to the country if Research In Motion doesn't provide government access to their encrypted information for security investigations. RIM, the owner of the immensely popular business and leisure smart phone has no comments on the issue. UAE wants to ban access to BlackBerry service because they claim that the government has a right to access the information being transmitted for security investigations. All BlackBerry messages are encrypted to keep them from being deciphered by anyone who might try to intercept them. Currently RIM does not allow any government access to their secure encrypted information while other companies do allow access in certain circumstances. Other companies also ensure protection through encryption or other security measures. The problem with UAE banning service to BlackBerry and RIM is that it will open the floodgates to ban other companies focusing on corporate security and demanding a back door to information whenever a government asks for it. RIM continually assures that it is committed to its customers and will always strive to deliver highly secure and innovative products that satisfy the needs of both customers and governments. A ban would be a very bad thing for RIM and it would be a bad thing for a lot of corporate e-mail systems. The reason we're all willing to use our Blackberry’s for leisure and for sensitive corporate emails is that there is this promise that every we send is secure information. If you take that away, it strips the confidence to the user and BlackBerry.