Previously we reported that BlackBerry Messenger would not be shutdown in the UK. RIM squashed this hoax that had many people worried. However, David Lammy, Member of Parliament for Tottenham, is making it clear he believes BBM should be suspended.
“This is one of the reasons why unsophisticated criminals are outfoxing an otherwise sophisticated police force,” he tweeted. “BBM is different as it is encrypted and police can’t access it.”
Many of the rioters in the UK are using BBM over Twitter and other social networks. It is harder for police to target the rioters, as BBM messages are encrypted and not easily accessible. RIM has said they would aid the London police, but did not specify if they’d supply the police with BBM chat logs, and other private information. Protest against RIM has already started with its official BlackBerry blog getting hacked.
Do you think BBM should be suspended in the UK? If BBM was suspended, do you think it would help stop the riots? How do you feel about RIM aiding the police in targeting the rioters? Let us know in the comments.
via Reuters
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Tags: BBM, BlackBerry Messenger, RIM, spotlight
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If RIM respond to Parliament calls to turn over chat logs, it would be a huge own goal for them. the whole point of BBM is that it is encrypted and inaccessible to anyone else, as soon as that advantage is lost, bbm becomes useless. Where would it stop after that? Governments could ask to see bbm chat logs and suddenly bbm is no better than texting.
Obviously I think the riots and criminal acts going on in London are terrible, and those responsible should be prosecuted. I do however think the media is at fault slightly for shovelling all the blame here on bbm and twitter exclusively. Shutting down bbm wont stop the riots, getting police down there and arresting those taking part will.
For a few days time they should. The guy’s asking to suspend BBM for 12hrs per day evening time (6pm to 6 am).
The lootings have been mindless and pointless and without a proper cause to stand up for or a political reason. BBM has helped it because the kids involved know they can’t be tracked so easily on it.
I think there’s a case to suspend for the sake of others and organised crime etc but that just means the police need to get better at what they do.
The lootings, the damage and the riots have been ludicrous. shutting down bbm will only mean that people will find another way. when egypt lost ways of communication, people found other ways. BBM is not the cause but a tool just like everything else.
Shutting down something (internet in the case of egypt) won’t stop it, slow it down but not solve the problem.
I “love” the threats made to rim and their reasons behind it. Lets release rim employees details if you get us caught. yeah okay…
15 year old kids doing the looting are not exactly worried about encryption, if bbm gets shutdown because a witch hunt paranoia, kids will find the way out it. Make no mistake, regardless of bbm or not riots will happen if the authority doesn’t step up.
So rather trying to point the blame on a device, they should be thinking on how to put order for real.