This Is How RIM Will Let the Indian Government Spy on BlackBerry Owners

BlackBerry smartphones have been under fire around the world from terrorism-fearing governments. Now RIM's revealed how it'll let the Indian government spy on users, so the service can stay running.

It's not too bad. RIM's service trades on its security, which appeals to business users worried about their secret company data, but the system is so successfully encrypted that numerous regimes around the world have become worried that their security services can't access messages sent on the devices. To those with a paranoid bent, this would allow terrorist or anti-government things to go on without surveillance. RIM's been involved in discussions with the Indian government for several months about precisely this problem, and the authorities have threatened that RIM's service could be terminated in 2011. This now looks like it's not going to happen, as RIM has consented to the governments wishes. It will allow access to BlackBerry Messenger communications inside India on a "case by case" basis, where "lawful" access requests are made. This means the government will have to follow due legal process to spy on BlackBerry users, on an individual basis, and with the consent of the courts.