Two Gulf states to ban some Blackberry functions

[N.O.R.F]

Two Gulf states to ban some Blackberry functions

 

Two Gulf states have announced bans on some functions of the Blackberry mobile phone, claiming security concerns.

 

The United Arab Emirates is to block sending emails, accessing the internet, and delivering instant messages to other Blackberry handsets.

 

Saudi Arabia is to prevent the use of the Blackberry to Blackberry instant messaging service.

 

Both nations are unhappy that they are unable to monitor such communications via the handsets.

 

This is because the Blackberry handsets automatically send the encrypted data to computer servers outside of the two countries.

 

The UAE ban is to start in October, while the Saudi move will begin later this month.

 

Abdulrahman Mazi, a board member of state-controlled Saudi Telecom, has admitted that the decision is intended to put pressure on Blackberry's Canadian owner, Research in Motion (RIM), to release data from users' communications "when needed".

 

The UAE's telecoms regulator, TRA, said the lack of compliance with local laws raised "judicial, social and national security concerns".

 

RIM has yet to comment on either case.

 

There are an estimated 500,000 Blackberry users in the UAE, and 400,000 in Saudi Arabia.

 

TRA said some Blackberry services would be suspended from 11 October "until a solution compatible with local laws is reached".

 

"It's a final decision but we are continuing discussions with them," said TRA director general Mohammed al-Ghanem.

 

"Censorship has got nothing to do with this. What we are talking about is suspension due to the lack of compliance with UAE telecommunications regulations."

 

It follows an alleged attempt by TRA last year to install spyware on Blackberry handsets.

 

And in 2007 RIM refused TRA access to the code for RIM's encrypted networks so it could monitor email and other data.

 

Power play?

 

Media freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders told the BBC last week that while the UAE was playing a "technological leadership role in the Arab world", this was backed by "repressive laws" and a "general trend of intensified surveillance".

 

BBC Middle East business reporter Ben Thompson said the threat by the UAE was likely an attempt to wring concessions out of RIM.

 

"Many here see this as little more than a power play from the UAE authorities - an attempt to force RIM to handover the security codes or face losing a lucrative market," he said.

 

India has also raised security concerns over Blackberry data services, saying they could be exploited by militants.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10830485

[Jacaylbaro]

I guess you're happy coz u don't use Blackberry ,,, lol

[The Zack]

WOW! That ain't cool. Banning the ability to send emails on the BB? they might as well ban the entire use of the BB coz emailing is one of the important things one uses a Blackberry for.

 

Saudis are crazy too, who is gonna use some crappy instant messages to cause security issues? By the way, it is true that they both can't monitor that data, this is because RIM's servers are all in Ontario, Canada. Frankly this was discussed in the U.S. when Obama was taking over the office. It happens that Obama is addicted to using Blackberry but he was denied using it for security reasons. They didn't want the president's phone data be saved in a "foreign country". Instead they gave him a locally-made Blackberry-like device.

[N.O.R.F]

Originally posted by Jacaylbaro:

I guess you're happy coz u don't use Blackberry ,,, lol

One of the reasons why I don't use a BB or IP. Pointless as some services/software downloads etc can't be used/done.

[Som@li]

Originally posted by The Zack:

WOW! That ain't cool. Banning the ability to send emails on the BB? they might as well ban the entire use of the BB coz emailing is one of the important things one uses a Blackberry for.

 

.

actually it is The CORE use of blackberry, it is useless without emails.

 

Carabna waxaa laga raacay is ilaasha, Gurigoodii baa biya ugu soo galeen, Secury freaks

[NGONGE]

Originally posted by The Zack:

WOW! That ain't cool. Banning the ability to send emails on the BB? they might as well ban the entire use of the BB coz emailing is one of the important things one uses a Blackberry for.

 

Saudis are crazy too, who is gonna use some crappy instant messages to cause security issues? By the way, it is true that they both can't monitor that data, this is because RIM's servers are all in Ontario, Canada. Frankly this was discussed in the U.S. when Obama was taking over the office. It happens that Obama is addicted to using Blackberry but he was denied using it for security reasons. They didn't want the president's phone data be saved in a "foreign country". Instead they gave him a locally-made Blackberry-like device.

Not that kind of 'security'. I bet you it's all about stopping people from viewing/downloading porn. As for the messaging service, well that's obvious too.

[The Zack]

NOGONGE , don't people in those countries have computers for that?

[Jacaylbaro]

Waar waxay is leeyihiin hablahaa la idinka shukaansan ,,, Hinaasaa dilay kuwaasna

[NGONGE]

^^ Dee haa! Viva hinaas.

 

The Zack, they do but the net usage there is censored by the local phone companies. Blackberry is not local.

[The Zack]

^Ahahha carabtu saqajaansanaa ninyahow. Oh well I am glad I don't leave there because I live by Smartphone.

[N.O.R.F]

 

Apparently they just want the same 'partnership' with BlackBerry that the US and UK have (maybe not to the same effect).

 

In recent years, the US and UK have adopted legislation that allows their authorities to access sensitive data sent by BlackBerry.

 

The UAE has passed similar legislation to protect itself from judicial, social and national security issues but Research In Motion, the Canadian maker of BlackBerry, has not complied with any of the country’s requests, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) said.

 

In 1994, the US passed the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (Calea) which was designed to aid law enforcement agencies to conduct criminal investigations requiring wiretapping over telephone networks.

 

Calea requires licensed US telecoms operators to be able to provide authorities with calling data and call-identifying information if a lawful request is made.

 

The Act was amended in 2004 to allow US government agencies to extend their surveillance programmes over internet calling and broadband connections.

 

Previously, in 1996, the US passed the Telecommunications Act. In the law, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the US government organisation that enforces the Act, ordered a clause that prohibits any electronic devices that interfere with law enforcement.

 

Last year the FCC enforced the telecoms law when it charged a company for the first time with marketing an illegal voice scrambling feature. Uniden America Corp was fined US$23,000 for violating the act with its “General Mobile Radio Service” transmitters.

 

 

In Britain, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act was passed in 2000 and closely mirrors the Calea legislation.

 

The Act was amended in 2002 to require telecoms operators “in the design, operation, etc of their networks ... to facilitate interception of communications”

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