Following recent tension between RIM and the UAE regarding the overseas encryption of data, the UAE has made an (excuse the pun) bold move and blocked both BlackBerry internet and email with Saudi Arabai also copying the technological crackdown.
BlackBerry's have a strong following in the region, particularly from foreign professionals and the country’s youth.
Christopher Davidson, a professor at the University of Durham who has written extensively about the region, criticised the reasoning behind the ban saying, “The authorities have used a variety of arguments (to justify the ban), such as it can be used by terrorists,” “Yes that’s true, but it can also be used by civil society campaigners and activists.”
The UAE’s decision will stop hundreds of thousands of BlackBerry users from accessing online content from October but it is unclear whether or not the ban will extend to foreign visitors with roaming services.
The government said it is singling out the BlackBerry (over other smartphones such as the iPhone or Android-based handsets) because RIM are they only manufacturer that automatically sends users’ data to servers overseas making BlackBerry messages far harder to monitor than ones sent through domestic servers that authorities can more easily tap into.
This news could have a big impact on both the technological and political world. RIM are yet comment but they can't be happy with these developments.
Source: Sky Tech News