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BlackBerry Comments on Canadian Police Eavesdropping Report (blackberry.com)

Posted by msmash on from the 'doing-what-is-right' dept.

Last week, a report, citing court documents, claimed that Canadian police have had BlackBerry's global decryption key since 2010. Today BlackBerry CEO John Chen officially commented on the report. In a blog post, Chen reiterated that his company remains committed to doing what is "right for the citizenry," without confirming if the Candian police have the "global encryption key." "I have stated before that we are indeed in a dark place when companies put their reputations above the greater good," Chen wrote, adding that the company's cooperation with the Canadian police resulted in shutting down a criminal organization. He adds: Regarding BlackBerry's assistance, I can reaffirm that we stood by our lawful access principles. Furthermore, at no point was BlackBerry's BES server involved. Our BES continues to be impenetrable -- also without the ability for backdoor access -- and is the most secure mobile platform for managing all mobile devices. That's why we are the gold standard in government and enterprise-grade security. For BlackBerry, there is a balance between doing what's right, such as helping to apprehend criminals, and preventing government abuse of invading citizen's privacy, including when we refused to give Pakistan access to our servers. (Update). We have been able to find this balance even as governments have pressured us to change our ethical grounds. Despite these pressures, our position has been unwavering and our actions are proof we commit to these principles. To recall, Chen criticized Apple last year when the iPhone maker refused to unlock a terrorist's iPhone. At the time, he said, Apple was "putting reputation above the greater good."

4 of 61 comments (clear)

  1. One every minute by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Our BES continues to be impenetrable

    If you believe that, you're a sucker.

  2. Translation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    "Fuck you if you're a privat customer, all your data are belong to us, and continue to trust us if you're an enterprise customer, we promise we won't fuck you the second we decide it's for the greater good."

  3. "the greater good" "balance" by fustakrakich · · Score: 3, Interesting

    All these nice comfy words to lull us into fascism. Obviously they don't believe in privacy, their propaganda piece notwithstanding. Consider them a government agent, and leave it at that. And besides, what do they have to offer anyway?

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  4. Be Afraid by BeerMilkshake · · Score: 4, Interesting

    When leaders start using propaganda like "doing what is right for the citizenry" and "greater good" we should get nervous. A CTV article mentioned that government and corporate clients were exempt from this intrusion. That says it all.