INDIA: Indian government says Blackberry makers must address security concerns or face ban
Record ID:
1375146
INDIA: Indian government says Blackberry makers must address security concerns or face ban
- Title: INDIA: Indian government says Blackberry makers must address security concerns or face ban
- Date: 28th August 2010
- Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (AUGUST 27, 2010) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) A CONFERENCE ON ELECTRONIC GOVERNANCE IN PROGRESS SACHIN PILOT, JUNIOR MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, SITTING WITH OFFICIALS ON THE DAIS AUDIENCE SITTING OFFICIALS UNVEILING A PAMPHLET ON E-GOVERNANCE AUDIENCE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SACHIN PILOT, JUNIOR MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, SAYING: "I think the concerns of the Home Ministry pertain only to the fact that in the rare eventuality of legal interception being required to be done, the government must have the tools to protect the country and its citizens from any untoward incident that might be planned using these technologies. And, I think, these concerns have been addressed in other parts of the world. I see no reason why the Indian government and its agencies should take any risk at all, as far as this technology is concerned." UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION (FILE) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) BLACKBERRY PHONES ON DISPLAY TWO BLACKBERRY PHONES ON DISPLAY BLACKBERRY PHONES ON DISPLAY BLACKBERRY PHONE A MAN LOOKING AT FUNCTIONS OF A BLACKBERRY PHONE BLACKBERRY HANDSETS ON DISPLAY TWO BLACKBERRY PHONES ON DISPLAY PHONES ON DISPLAY BLACKBERRY PHONE ON DISPLAY NEW DELHI, INDIA (AUGUST 27, 2010) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) (SOUNDBITE) (English) SACHIN PILOT, JUNIOR MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, SAYING: "The Home (Interior) ministry, rightly so, has said that lawful interceptions have to be provided by the operators. The onus is also on the operators to provide that service. I think the next meeting is scheduled in the next few days and I'm hopeful we'll come up with some resolutions." UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION (FILE) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) A MAN LOOKING AT THE BLACKBERRY PHONE BLACKBERRY PHONES MAN PUTTING BACK THE BLACKBERRY PHONES
- Embargoed: 11th September 2010 23:36
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: Communications,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVADBWEERNUC5OOX98HPVGEOHJBP
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: India insisted on Friday (August 27) it would block some BlackBerry services next week if the smartphone maker did not address security concerns, and government officials said they were hopeful for a solution soon.
Time is running out for Canada's Research In Motion to give India the means to track and read its secure email and instant messaging services that officials fear could be misused by militants and to create political instability.
Executives of the Canadian firm met Indian government officials for a second day on Friday in last-ditch negotiations aimed at finding a solution ahead of an Aug. 31 deadline. The government has said it will take a final decision on Monday.
India's junior telecoms minister said nothing short of a solution giving access to secure email would satisfy security agencies.
"I think the concerns of the Home Ministry pertain only to the fact that in the rare eventuality of legal interception being required to be done, the government must have the tools to protect the country and its citizens from any untoward incident that might be planned using these technologies. And, I think, these concerns have been addressed in other parts of the world. I see no reason why the Indian government and its agencies should take any risk at all, as far as this technology is concerned," Pilot said on Friday.
Pilot said he was hopeful the company would offer a solution.
BlackBerry's troubles in India, which could cut it out from one of the world's fastest growing mobile phone markets, are the latest in the firm's global headaches as governments worry its encrypted services could be used for activities from terrorism to peddling pornography.
India is one of a number of countries putting pressure on RIM for the same reason its BlackBerry device is so popular with business professionals and politicians: confidentiality.
The governments of Saudi Arabia and other nations fear it could become a tool to plan militant attacks or for those breaking Islamic laws.
RIM has offered to lead an industry forum to look at India's need to have "lawful access" to its encrypted email and messenger in an effort to stave off the blocking of the popular services.
RIM said singling out BlackBerry for blocking would be counter-productive for India, as it would limit the efficiency and productivity of local firms.
But Pilot said the onus lay with the operators to provide a solution to the standoff.
"The Home (Interior) ministry, rightly so, has said that lawful interceptions have to be provided by the operators. The onus is also on the operators to provide that service. I think the next meeting is scheduled in the next few days and I'm hopeful we'll come up with some resolutions," Pilot said.
A shutdown would affect about 1 million users in India out of a total 41 million BlackBerry users worldwide, allowing them to use the devices only for calls and Internet browsing.
RIM uses powerful codes to scramble, or encrypt, email messages as they travel between a BlackBerry device and a computer known as a BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) that is designed to secure those emails.
RIM has said BlackBerry security is based on a system where the customers create their own key and the company neither has a master key nor any "back door" to allow RIM or any third party to gain access to crucial corporate data. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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