BlackBerry is Exiting Asian Country Following Government Pressure
The Government of Pakistan has notified BlackBerry that it has to shutdown its operations in the country by December 30 "for security reasons."
In July, the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority notified the country?s mobile phone operators that BlackBerry's BES servers would no longer be allowed to operate in the country.
Blackberry says that the Pakistani government wanted the ability to monitor all BlackBerry Enterprise Service traffic in the country, including every BES e-mail and BES BBM message.
"Pakistan?s demand was not a question of public safety; we are more than happy to assist law enforcement agencies in investigations of criminal activity," Blackberry said. "Rather, Pakistan was essentially demanding unfettered access to all of our BES customers' information. The privacy of our customers is paramount to BlackBerry, and we will not compromise that principle."
BlackBerry added that although the Pakistani government?s directive was aimed only at the company's BES servers, it has ecided to exit the market altogether.
Blackberry says that the Pakistani government wanted the ability to monitor all BlackBerry Enterprise Service traffic in the country, including every BES e-mail and BES BBM message.
"Pakistan?s demand was not a question of public safety; we are more than happy to assist law enforcement agencies in investigations of criminal activity," Blackberry said. "Rather, Pakistan was essentially demanding unfettered access to all of our BES customers' information. The privacy of our customers is paramount to BlackBerry, and we will not compromise that principle."
BlackBerry added that although the Pakistani government?s directive was aimed only at the company's BES servers, it has ecided to exit the market altogether.
