A possible workaround to India’s difficulties accessing RIM’s BlackBerry Enterprise Servers has been put forth by the DoT – a way beyond the deadline banning services. They’ve suggested that India’s security agencies access corporate email and messenger services using monitoring systems installed with ISPs all over the country, allowing them to make a copy of every email sent out. They can already monitor BlackBerry internet services and voice calls.
The suggestion is apparently still under consideration, though reports have come in that RIM has agreed to this method of access, allowing Indian security agencies to copy client e-mails and short messages. They’ll have to specifically request for the data until November, after which it will be sent to them via automatic feeds. There has been no official statement from RIM confirming the agreement.
Details about Saudi Arabia’s deals with RIM are still scarce, but it having been struck does seem much surer now, and perhaps precipitated India’s own closure on the issue. India’s own lack of infrastructure makes it unique amongst the dissident countries though, with essentially a one-way line of communication along the now widespread mobile networks, for almost everything – private, business and government needs. It is no wonder why Indian security agencies have been using the very same mobile network to cripple terrorist activities in troubled regions.
The news certainly is good for privacy advocates, who've again risen up in arms. For many BlackBerry users however, it's time to breathe a sigh of relief..