Originally Posted by
Omnitech The exception is BES - and that is because even if the spooks can capture the traffic going over the "wire" (or the air in this case), if that traffic is encrypted with strong enough encryption, and you don't have the decryption key or a "backdoor", then it passes securely.
If governments tried to force RIM to provide a "backdoor" or decryption keys to governments for every BES installation, it would completely destroy what is viewed as one of the most fundamental values of that platform: secure business communications. Do you really think IBM, Boeing or Exxon wants RIM to give China the decryption keys to every staff-person's communications using a Blackberry in China? If they did, the security of BES would be essentially worthless.
And if they gave it to one country (ie Canada or the USA), every other country would demand the same accomodations.
So my guess is that all the back/forth negotiations we heard about in re: to the countries I previously mentioned, revolved primarily around what to do if someone is running a BES. I don't think anyone ever expected BIS/BBM communications to be impervious to lawful law-enforcement snooping, though for casual communications they're probably more secure than if you were on Android or iOS - it's just that all bets are off when you get a search warrant pertaining to possible terrorist activity or something.
Just like during the UK riots, as previously mentioned in this thread.