SAUDI ARABIA has delayed its decision on shutting off Research In Motion’s BlackBerry instant messaging until midnight tonight, giving operators time to test a system that can monitor user data.
“Appropriate action on whether to suspend the service” will be taken after the proposed solution is shown to comply with regulatory requirements, the state-run Saudi Press Agency cited a statement from the Saudi telecommunications regulator as saying.
Saudi Arabia has said it wants to monitor BlackBerry messages to prevent terrorism and illegal activities. The Saudi situation is being closely watched because it’s one of a growing number of countries in which Canadian firm RIM, based in Waterloo, Ontario, faces scrutiny over its BlackBerry e-mail and messaging services. The United Arab Emirates, India and Indonesia have also expressed concern that such mobile communications could be used to violate laws or national mores.
“The sooner they reach agreements and publicise them, the better,” said Pierre Ferragu, an analyst at Sanford Bernstein in London. If the situation is not resolved “it could end up pushing users to go for an alternative brand in order to avoid problems if the service were actually shut off”.
It was reported on Saturday that RIM reached a deal in Saudi Arabia that would allow authorities to monitor messages, citing an unidentified Saudi regulatory official. The accord involves installing a server inside Saudi Arabia to let authorities check BlackBerry users’ data, said AP. – (Bloomberg)
