RIM holding conference call for customers, government officials to talk privacy

By on Aug 13, 2010 at 9:12 AM
Exclusive August 13, 2010

We’ve been alerted that a Research In Motion VP has sent out a letter to top business customers and government officials inviting them to join in a conference call bridge at 10:00 AM this morning. RIM is hosting this call to, “provide an update on media reports discussing RIM and governments who wish to monitor Blackberry services or have special access to our services.” It sounds like the folks up in Waterloo are either going to pull damage control or come out swinging their security sword. With Saudi Arabia, China, India, UAE, and most definitely more countries pushing for access to RIM’s data, what do you think RIM is going to do? Can they keep their system closed and still expect to operate in these countries?

UPDATE: Thank you to Sprat for bringing our attention to this general statement RIM released to address customer concerns yesterday.

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28 Comments

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  • Max

    Who gives a shit about RIM.

    • KP

      The problem isn’t so much that it’s RIM, but these governments (if they get their way) will then go after other phone manufacturers. They’ll attack Android, iPhone. The scope of what we seen unfolding here is much, much broader. It hits directly at the HEART of information privacy for all of us who travel abroad. These governments use the “excuse” of monitoring for terrorist activity (they may do this as well), but by and large it’s really about them not wanting folks in their country to be able to have ANY information privacy.

      • http://markdice.com Bob?

        I agree completely with what you’re saying. Its only a matter of time before all of the major phone carriers are blackballed in to turning over our private data. Look at Facebook, every picture and post that is put on that website is sold to the government by facebook…..WAKE UP

      • Wake Up

        THe reason this is a big deal is that rim is the only phone company doesn’t turn over your private data or allow it to be easily intercepted

      • Jason

        AND look at the damn picture. It’s a manufacturing facility in NORTH AMERICA. Unlike Apple, HTC, Samsung, etc, who all make their phones in China. RIM actually builds phones in North America, keeping jobs here!

    • Moosebump

      Oh, just most of the world’s governments and largest corporations. But other than that no one really.

    • rederikus

      What a moron. RIM makes the best phon hardware, has THE BEST OS and it is secure.

      Oh yes, you can actually MAKE phone calls on BlackBerry phones.

      Crawl back under your rock.

  • sprat
    • Andrew Munchbach

      Thank you. Updated the post with that link.

    • tom

      Thanks for the link. Honestly, RIM was just regurgitating facts we all know. Nothing new.

      In the end, none of our data is secure.

  • Joe

    No, they’ll eventually cave in, imo.

  • http://www.4gig.co.cc 4gig

    well its about time RIM have to clean up…

  • Karlh

    In most countries there is a due process of law before officials can start listening in on calls or emails etc. (Granted since 9/11 that has changed dramatically) However if a government gets a legal search warrant to investigate someone then they need to be allowed to do so. A private corporation should not have veto power. I love the security of the Blackberry and if I had kids I would want them to use them so I was sure nobody else could be listening in pon their texts or anything. In business I love the security to protect Intellectual Property etc. However in society we need to be subject to the laws of the land and can not allow private corporations a free pass around the laws. I’d hate to think that a drug dealer’s right to own a Crackebrry (pun intended)and send private messages overrides the governments right to investigate them if they have due cause.

    • RealDeal

      The problem is people with something to hide will know BBM and BlackBerry email is no longer secure if RIM caves, they’ll just start using private VPN connections. If they are smart enough to use BBM and encrypted email to hide their tracks now, they will figure out a new way of securely communicating via mobile phones tomorrow.

      • Karlh

        Bikers and drug dealers are not that smart for the most part. Right now they know to just buy a blackberry and send messages and they’re good to go. If they need to start setting up infrastructure for VPN’s etc to secure their communications then that also makes it much harder for them to operate.

  • kirk

    Maybe they are going to have a conference call on how the Torch was just a joke and they’ll releasing a real BlackBerry soon.

  • Len

    Commendable statement by RIM. You can tell RIM is a professional and respectable company.

    They could have easily taken a page out of Steve Job’s book and just said other mobile phones are even less secure and called it a day.

    • http://twitter.com/TylerMrK @TylerMrK

      You’re not securing it right!

  • SVELTE

    Really disappointed in RIM… I think it’s gonna be more propaganda about their top notch security. But, they have already sold out. Bad RIM, bad.

    • SVELTE

      I think RIM has given up their last big selling point… security. What a shame. I think it’s downhill for ‘em. Won’t be right now, but I will say that RIM will not be a major player in three years.

    • SVELTE

      Hey, I can see these comments are not very popular, but remember not to hate the player… hate the game folks… hate the game.

  • Wcurr

    That pic is hilarious to me for some reason….the fricken queen totally has the standard old people meet smart phone look on her face.

    • HooHaa

      WHAT? No one put a static wrist ground on her?

  • Kar

    This is the reason that I came to U.S. Unlimited and uncensored internet and telephone service. In my country, in Burma, it is know fact that government tapes all our conversation ( but they only listen to politically connected conversation because they lack manpower to listen to all). All Internet cafes have to turn our browsing history to the authority, and if you ever browse certain website in your own internet connection, man, you are dead. And they read all these SMS messages, too.
    All these countries are just claiming terrorism, but in the end, is all about control. Specially UAE and Saudi.

  • Max

    You think RIM can’t get your precious emails now, you BB Morons? Even that super duper top secret email from your wife telling you to bring home a pizza, no anchovies.

    • Jason

      You’re a MORON!!!

  • FlyingPig

    This entire subject is a storm in a teacup.

    As RIM’s statement points out, in almost every country with internet access, people use VPN’s to communicate via laptops/desktops.

    Using any of todays market leading devices with a quick download you could have secure communication. Skype calls are “end to end encrypted” for example.

    The disadvantage would be the lack of an integrated infrastructure and control that RIM’s architecture provides. But you could still communicate relatively securely without fear of government eavesdropping.

    So given it’s fairly obvious with 30 seconds research that security is a non-issue, either these countries are run by idiots, or they’re looking for bigger “commissions” or leverage. I suspect the latter.

  • Brad

    HM is awesome. She’s always got the distinctive handbag, even when she’s wearing her Queen of Canada hat.

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