This article is from 2010. Now I'm looking for the official BlackBerry response ZB mentioned and this is one of the articles I ran across. It seems to say the sellout happened long ago!
Is RIM Allowing Government Spying Or Not? - BerryReview
I am totally confused here. On one hand RIM has issued a statement to multiple news sources that “RIM assures customers that it will not compromise the integrity and security of the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution.” On the other hand we have the India Times reporting that “Research in Motion (RIM) has for the first time agreed to allow Indian security agencies to monitor its BlackBerry services.”
So which one is it? According to the India Times:
The company (RIM) has offered to share with security agencies its technical codes for corporate email services, open up access to all consumer emails within 15 days and also develop tools in 6 to 8 months to allow monitoring of chats… With regard to its general consumer email, RIM has said the services provided by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar, Loop and Tata can already be monitored. RIM also assured that it is working with mobile phone companies like Aircel, BSNL, MTNL, Idea and Reliance Communications to install the requisite infrastructure to ensure that general consumer emails offered by these firms are in formats that can monitored by security agencies within the next 15 days, documents with the telecom ministry said. Voice and SMS services on BlackBerry handsets can be intercepted by security agencies here, the DoT’s internal note adds.
Now on the other hand RIM has issued the following statement that we saw on IntoMobile:
Due to recent media reports, Research In Motion (RIM) recognizes that some customers are curious about the discussions that occur between RIM and certain governments regarding the use of encryption in BlackBerry products. RIM also understands that the confidential nature of these discussions has consequently given rise to speculation and misinterpretation. RIM respects both the regulatory requirements of government and the security and privacy needs of corporations and consumers. While RIM does not disclose confidential regulatory discussions that take place with any government, RIM assures its customers that it is committed to continue delivering highly secure and innovative products that satisfy the needs of both customers and governments.
Many public facts about the BlackBerry Enterprise Server security architecture have been well established over the years and remain unchanged. A recap of these facts, along with other general industry facts, should help our customers maintain confidence about the security of their information.
RIM operates in over 175 countries today and provides a security architecture that is widely accepted by security conscious customers and governments around the world.
Governments have a wide range of resources and methodologies to satisfy national security and law enforcement needs without compromising commercial security requirements.
The use of strong encryption in wireless technology is not unique to the BlackBerry platform. Strong encryption is a mandatory requirement for all enterprise-class wireless email services.
The use of strong encryption in information technology is not limited to the wireless industry. Strong encryption is used pervasively on the Internet to protect the confidentiality of personal and corporate information.
Strong encryption is a fundamental requirement for a wide variety of technology products that enable businesses to operate and compete, both domestically and internationally.
The BlackBerry security architecture was specifically designed to provide corporate customers with the ability to transmit information wirelessly while also providing them with the necessary confidence that no one, including RIM, could access their data.
The BlackBerry security architecture for enterprise customers is based on a symmetric key system whereby the customer creates their own key and only the customer ever possesses a copy of their encryption key. RIM does not possess a “master key”, nor does any “back door” exist in the system that would allow RIM or any third party to gain unauthorized access to the key or corporate data.
The BlackBerry security architecture for enterprise customers is purposefully designed to exclude the capability for RIM or any third party to read encrypted information under any circumstances. RIM would simply be unable to accommodate any request for a copy of a customer’s encryption key since at no time does RIM, or any wireless network operator, ever possess a copy of the key.
The BlackBerry security architecture was also purposefully designed to perform as a global system independent of geography. The location of data centers and the customer’s choice of wireless network are irrelevant factors from a security perspective since end-to-end encryption is utilized and transmissions are no more decipherable or less secure based on the selection of a wireless network or the location of a data center. All data remains encrypted through all points of transfer between the customer’s BlackBerry Enterprise Server and the customer’s device (at no point in the transfer is data decrypted and re-encrypted).
RIM assures customers that it will not compromise the integrity and security of the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution.
So now I am still confused. Which one is it? Do they allow government monitoring or not? Maybe BES server email is excluded? What do you make of it? Maybe these governments will tackle how frustrating it is to open an envelope without the receiver noticing it was tampered with…