On air: Is Saudi Arabia right to restrict the use of Blackberrys?

Outlawing free and open communication in the name of "security" sounds like something North Korea would do. Does Saudi Arabia have something it wants to hide from the world, or from its own citizens?

The Blackberry problem is too much security.
The “security problem” is really a cryptography problem. In other words,
Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Lebanon cannot decrypt the messages that pass through RIM’s servers.
RIM is too secure.
Imagine if some Eastern Country had designed a system like RIM, and the United States could not monitor or decode. Do you not think the United States would suddenly become frenetic to break the code, that it might even outlaw these devices?
The United States can compel RIM to deliver unencrypted data for reasons of national security (US’ CALEA Statute).
Governments like the UAE are demanding the same rights as the US Government i.e. the right to compel.
Now here's a key statement from Mike Lazaridis, the co-CEO of RIM: “Everything on the Internet is encrypted...If they can't deal with the Internet, they should shut it off.”
Right on! And the same can be said about RIM’s proprietary delivery network.
(What an ideal tool for potential terrorists to use, as they did at Mumbai...)

By all means, Saudi Arabia (and any other country) can ban Blackberries. It is their right to spy on their citizens and to deny any technology that compromises their ability to spy inside its borders. It is also their right to compromise business communication within the nation; maybe Saudi Arabia's ban will promote more teleconferencing, since any business person who travels there will lose contact with all of their international business connections, not just those in Saudi Arabia. (Extrapolated a bit, Saudi Arabia's ban of the Blackberry is that country's bit to combat global warming by reducing travel to its shores and and thereby lowering oil consumption and its resulting pollution.=)

Is it Saudi Arabia's right to restrict use of blackberry phone? Yes. But it looks to me like its more of a control issue than a "security" issue.

What ever happened to the days when blackberries were considered food?

Isn't the most significant thing about this story the number of governments who obviously ARE monitoring private communications in the name of "security"?

RIM already allows China and India to access the blackberry communications, countries like the US and UK are keen to do so too (if they don't already). So it does seem selective that RIM is refusing to allow only certain countries the same access.
I think governments should have the same information on our personal interactions as we have on theirs. It is more important that the population be protected from abuse of power by governments than the other way round. We should be allowed to monitor every email, text, phonecall, etc. that they communicate.

Saudi arabian authorities are are only being draconian, theres no way u can deny people to enjoy the fruits of technology

This is a tuff issue. Personally I could care less if Uncle Sam listens to me or reads my mail. What little private info I might refer to , he could care less about. I would imagine that most countries would feel the same way about most cell phone use. If the ability for a country to look at my communication keeps them from looking into my daily life as I live it, let big brother do it. If it helps find someone planning a terrorist activity. I say let them as long as it keep the country, it's people and the world safe. But that should be where the line is drawn. Except maybe in Mexico with all the drug cartel problems.

expect the unexpected from closed societies.

That's odd - so many nations have no need to monitor these communications and yet remain secure.

Let's quit being silly about this - it's nothing more than a plan from an authoritarian government to further control the speech of their citizens.

Saudi Arabia is being incredibly silly - there are trivial ways to hide electronic messages in the open.

Which is better, giving up blackberries or monitoring their usage? What else is the Saudi government going to give up for security, internet, hotel accomodations, other sort of communications and travel? These are avenues that can be invaded as well.

Thanks

Chloe:

I am not surprised honestly, about the Saudi Arabian restricting the usage of the Blackberry...Since, its' the motives of a secretive state and hyper sensitive security services....


-Dennis Junior-

These countries have every right to demand what our own country demands at home.

We may believe that their governments would abuse their rights, denying their people of private communications, but it ain't our business to make those decisions for them.

If Indonesia wants RIM servers to be located in Indonesia, for their own Blackberries, try as I might, I can't understand why anyone should become indignant.

I feel people who face terrorist attacks frequently understand the problem better. I don't have any problem with my Government watching me or listening to my conversations all the while in the name of security to all the citizens - because I have nothing to hide! If the measures can save some lives I would cooperate fully with my Government. And I don't think my Government is invading my privacy. It is absolutely neccessary in the kind of situations we are living in right now. What is absolute freedom for if we are going to lose lives because of it?

Saudi Arabia and the other Arab countries are just afraid young people will commit such heinous crimes as sending love letters to each other before they are married, without the feared religious police able to intercept them. If they had any valid security concerns they would've just placed a server on their own soil to solve the problem.