The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has said that the encryption keys provided by Research In Motion (RIM) for its messenger and internet services was not adequate and that RIM has not provided other technical details to make this solution effective, according to news reports.
The DoT, in an internal note, said that RIM had created the necessary infrastructure for providing automatic solutions to monitor its messenger and public internet services, but had failed to provide what it termed the architect of the solution as well as the communication path for the service. DoT added that in the absence of these details, it was difficult to ascertain the sustainability of the solutions provided by RIM and instruct telcos to implement it.
RIM has been involved in a three-year battle with Indian security agencies, which are demanding access to all BlackBerry communications, citing national security threats. It has also been battling similar demands across several countries. The company has repeatedly maintained that it cannot provide access to its enterprise services (BES) or corporate emails on its handsets as its networks were designed in such a manner that neither it, nor mobile operators, could access the information flowing through it.
Acknowledging RIM’s stance, the department’s internal note adds that the Canadian company may set up BES infrastructure in India if the government assured the company that its facilities would not be banned in here. India’s security establishment has also been demanding that the Canadian company set up a server in the country to help address its security concerns.
