RIM to allow govt to access data

The makers of BlackBerry – Research in Motion (RIM) – have reached a compromise formula with the department of telecommunications (DoT). The company will provide the IP address of the enterprise server – located in the customer’s premise – as well as the PIN and the IMEI number of each BlackBerry mobile phone in use to enable security agencies access the data in a readable format.

An IMEI (international mobile equipment identity) number is a unique 15-digit number of a handset that helps identify the location of the user. Each BlackBerry device also has a PIN (personal identification number), which identifies a BlackBerry device and ensures that mail destined for a particular individual is delivered correctly, besides allowing PIN to PIN messaging.

In a meeting with DoT, company executives said the only way for security agencies to obtain the decrypted data is at the email server. RIM puts in a server at the premises of a company which promises to pick up a large number of BlackBerry mobile connections for its employees. This is done so that the data or email of the employees is secure within the company.

The company has also promised to develop tools in the next 6-8 months to allow chat services to be intercepted. “Some technical work needs to be done for chat services so that a clear message can be given to security agencies. Some engineering work will also be required in the operator’s network. The solution will be ready in the next six-eight months,” an internal note of the department said.

The voice and SMS services offered on the BlackBerry can already be monitored and intercepted by security agencies. The general consumer email offered by service providers are decompressed by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Loop Telecom and Tata Teleservices. However, Aircel, Idea, BSNL, MTNL and Reliance have still not implemented the decompressed solution but would do so in the next 15 days.

The compromise formula will be discussed between DoT and the Ministry of Home affairs as well as the Intellegience Bureau to take a decision whether the solution offered by RIM meets the security concerns of the government.

Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar, Reliance Communications and state-run telecom PSUs Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd are among the operators who offer BlackBerry services to their mobile subscribers. It is estimated that there are about 500,000-600,000 BlackBerry users across the country. Two years ago, similar concerns were raised against BlackBerry services but then DoT had said that all issues had been resolved.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia have also said they will bar BlackBerry services due to security risks. The Indian government had earlier warned the company to offer an interception solution or the services would be banned.