RIM offers conditional solution to monitor BlackBerry content
RIM to pass on sensitive customer data to govt but with a condition that DoT takes responsibility in case of loss of information. BlackBerry: The beauty in pics
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: In a new turn to the BlackBerry row, the Canadian vendor of the service, Research in Motion (RIM), is understood to have agreed to pass on sensitive customer data to the government but with a condition that DoT takes responsibility in case of a loss to any user due to leakage of information.
For any legal interception of data from BlackBerry, the security agencies need to be in possession of "Public Key" (code of customers handset) and "Private Key" (company's code against that handset).
The encrypted data packets sent through BlackBerry are password protected and could be deciphered only with the help of "Public Key" and "Private Key" together. The other provision is to build a super computer, which could take nearly three years and the results beyond a certain frequency were not guaranteed.
For any legal interception of data from BlackBerry, the security agencies need to be in possession of "Public Key" (code of customers handset) and "Private Key" (company's code against that handset).
The encrypted data packets sent through BlackBerry are password protected and could be deciphered only with the help of "Public Key" and "Private Key" together. The other provision is to build a super computer, which could take nearly three years and the results beyond a certain frequency were not guaranteed.
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Canada-based RIM officials are believed to have asked the DoT to take the responsibility of being the custodian of the Private Keys and also to bear the consequences if their was a loss of essential data of the customers.
Since the BlackBerry provided additional data security capabilities, including data encryption and decryption, digital signatures and data authentication, the customers are using the handset for their bank transactions and other money related matters.
RIM officials argued that there would be a chance where important codes were exchanged on the handset which could be leaked and therefore in case of such an act, the DoT should take the responsibility.
Public Key is offloaded to Digital Signature Processor (DSP) to increase the speed and therefore security agencies need to have access to the server as well for encrypting, the sources said.
During their introduction in the Indian telecom market, the company had been asked to keep in place a mechanism that would enable security agencies for a lawful interception of the data being transmitted through the instrument.
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The security agencies, besides other things, suggested that the server of the BlackBerry needed to be installed within the country to prevent its misuse. The BlackBerry controversy assumed new dimensions after security agencies warned that the technology could come handy for anti-national elements if there was no effective content monitoring mechanism.
The security agencies have claimed that the new technology could be abused by some terrorists modules and hawala operators.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) was the first to bring out difficulties being faced in monitoring data out of BlackBerry as they were unable to decipher the content because of packaging of the data in encrypted form which could not be deciphered.
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The services could come handy for tech-savvy militants who could converse using the round-the-clock connectivity to internet without having the fear of being intercepted. The BlackBerry service helps convert E-mails into short messaging service on the handset.
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