With a deadline looming BlackBerry services in India may be in jeopardy

BlackBerry is one of the most secure email and chat encryption available with more than 1 million people in India alone using it. The problem for Indian security agencies is simple; anti-national members are misusing the services for a secure chat. The government stands firm backing the security agencies and has asked BlackBerry to comply. 

Research in Motion finds itself in a difficult situation. The Indian government has made its stand clear on the issue -- giving RIM a deadline until 31 August for presenting a solution, failing which the BlackBerry messenger services will be suspended. So, what's the hoopla around the service? BlackBerry phones take pride in their encryption levels that are the most secure in the industry (which also happens to be a strong USP of the product). This means that even RIM does not have a master key to tap into a customer’s records or chats or calls. Recently, while discussing the problem with some friends, I came to realize the use of BlackBerry for teens or young adults. It is not to synchronize their mail or security; it is the easy to access BlackBerry chat. One of my friends is actually contemplating buying one just to stay in touch with girls who cannot install a third-party chat application like Nimbuzz or eBuddy. 

The service BlackBerry chat with its simple-to-use features is a product success by design and usability but creates security issues. It is so simple and securea that anti-nationals have taken quite a liking to it; using it to communicate without being monitored.

This raises a serious concern but also raises some privacy issues: The rights of a citizen are compromised under the blanket of security concerns for the nation. While one might say that a Stateexists as to offer a sense of security to humans, it is perhaps ironic that that we just might have to give up our right to privacy, for security.

On a very personal level, I have never been a BlackBerry fan. Nevertheless, if the Government does ban the services offered by RIM it can further check such services offered by Google on its to ‘let-us-monitor-or-ban list’. The security agencies always have had a problem with VoIP applications so Skype also faces a problem. Google Voice will then remain a far-fetched dream. 

 

"Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom!" 

- SubhashChandra Bose

 

“Give me security, and I shall give you my freedom (privacy)!”

- The voice in our heads