BlackBerry Still Stuck In Security Tangle
BlackBerry maker Research in Motion's problems in India are far from over. The Canadian company had recently provided encryption keys for its Messenger and Internet services to Indian security agencies after the government had threatened to shut down these facilities, but the communication ministry is of the view that RIM has not given other technical details to make this solution effective.
The telecoms department, in an internal note, reviewed by ET, said that RIM had created the necessary infrastructure for providing automatic solutions to monitor its messenger and public internet services, but had failed to provide what it termed 'the architect of the solution as well as the communication path for the service'.
The department said the 'in the absence of these details, it was difficult to ascertain the sustainability of the solutions provided by RIM and instruct telcos to implement it'. RIM has been involved in a three-year battle with Indian security agencies, which are demanding access to all BlackBerry communications, citing national security threats. It has also been battling similar demands across several countries.
The company has repeatedly maintained that it cannot provide access to its enterprise services (BES) or corporate emails on its handsets as its networks were designed in such a manner that neither it, nor mobile operators, could access the information flowing through it.
Acknowledging RIM's stance, the department's internal note adds that the Canadian company may set up BES infrastructure in India if the government assured the company that its facilities would not be banned in here. India's security establishment has also been demanding that the Canadian companyset up a server in the country to help address its security concerns.
"In this regard, it was clarified to RIM that creation of infrastructure in India may be in the best interest of RIM and it enhances the chances of acceptability of the service, but no guarantee can be given for not banning the service particularly without knowing the details of the type of infrastructure that RIM proposes to create in India, and whether this infrastructure will be able to provide a solution for the interception of the services," the department's internal note adds.
The smartphone maker had recently accused competitors for trying to profit from its problems in India and named Nokia, Motorola , Apple , Sony Ericsson , HTC , Cisco , Google , HP , Microsoft , Samsung and Good Technology, as companies offering services using similar encryption technologies.
RIM, in a customer update, said that it had been 'assured by senior Indian government officials that it would not be singled out, and that any policy relating to "lawful access" requirements for encrypted enterprise or VPN (virtual private network) communications would be applied equitably to all products and services that use encryption in India'.
Acknowledging RIM's complaint, the telecoms department has set up a technical committee 'to look into the architecture of various similar services so that a decision can be taken to address the issue of lawful interception of these services'. But the department has also added that the nature of the action taken may vary depending on the 'architecture and the gravity of need felt by security agencies'.
"As referenced in our February 22 update, RIM is pleased to have delivered an agreed-upon solution for BBM and BIS email in advance of the mutually-agreed January 31 target date and RIM welcomes an industry-wide policy discussion regarding the use of strong encryption in enterprise-grade products and services in India," its spokesperson said responding to a detailed query from ET.
In January, RIM had temporarily suspended its dialogue with the government on security issues saying leakage of sensitive discussions between the company and the Indian authorities had undermined the confidence needed for such discussions.
Canada too had complained to India's Home Secretary GK Pillai that confidential information submitted by the smartphone company were being leaked to the media, and had added that a top executive from the cellphone company would visit Delhi and accesses the situation (on the leaks) before resumed.
Dismissing RIM's concerns on media leaks, the telecom department's note adds that RIM may be 'trying to shroud their services in mystery which may not be in consumer interest and may also violate the consumer's right to know'.
"RIM has been applying various pressure tactics in delaying to provide the solution to the problem, including the alibi of media report, whereas this position (that security agencies can monitor messenger, voice and internet services on BlackBerry handsets) has been stated in their own media statements also," the DoT note adds.
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