Additional Information to Ethic and Social Responsibility

According to http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-01/blackberry-expansion-at-risk-as-governments-tighten-curbs-on-mobile-e-mail.html, Research In Motion Ltd., maker of the BlackBerry smart phone, faces increasing challenges to its overseas expansion as developing countries tighten restrictions on mobile e-mail.

The United Arab Emirates, home to Middle East business hub Dubai, said yesterday it may suspend BlackBerry e-mail services in October because of concern the devices could be used in crimes. The move comes days after an official in India said that country may ban BlackBerry e-mail use and reports that Saudi Arabia could take similar steps.

“It’s a reflection of fears of cyber-security and espionage that now extend to mobile phones,” said Ron Deibert, director of the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, who helped colleagues uncover a plot against the Indian government that involved computers in China. “It’s the type of thing that will become more common for RIM as they grapple with public policy and ethical issues in emerging markets.”

Security Concern

For RIM, the pioneer in handheld e-mail devices, security is one of the main advantages it touts over competitors. E-mails its customers send are encrypted and sent through RIM’s own servers and network operation centers, with much of the equipment located in Canada. That security has made BlackBerry’s popular with companies and government officials including Barack Obama, who kept his BlackBerry after becoming U.S. president.

However, the system also makes it harder for governments to monitor BlackBerry communications than messages from other smartphones, which typically travel across the Internet. That has made RIM’s devices an issue for countries concerned mobile e-mail or messaging could be used to coordinate a terrorist attack or bring down a government.

“RIM respects both the regulatory requirements of government and the security and privacy needs of corporations and consumers,” the company said in a statement. “RIM does not disclose confidential regulatory discussions that take place with any government.” In a separate statement for corporate customers, RIM said each company’s e-mails are encrypted with a unique key and even RIM can’t decode such messages.

After reading this article I do feel that it is a good thing that they do with encrypting their customers e-mails because who wants the world to know what they are sending especially the government. However, this can also be looked at as a security precaution to help prevent terrorist attacks; so this door can swing both ways depending on the point of view of the individual.