http://www.engadget.com/2016/04/18/blackberry-ceo-wont-say-whether-he-gave-up-encryption-keys/
Summary:
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have a key that allows them to unlock any non-business Blackberry smart phone. By using this key, the RCMP unlocked encrypted messages from over a million Blackberries as part of Project Clemenza. The result led into seven men confessing their involvement in a murder conspiracy. Blackberry CEO John Chen talked about this on a recent blog post on Blackberry's website. He however, did not mention if Blackberry gave the Canadian government the encryption key. Chen feels like that it is a bad idea that a company puts its reputation before helping the greater good. His post goes against Apple's stand during the FBI Apple backdoor key issue that occurred earlier. Chen feels that helping the government is good while Apple was obstructing justice during it's situation.
Important for MIS441:
This relates to the security and privacy of personal electronic like cell phones, an issue we have repeatedly discussed in class. This shows how a different phone manufacturer has helped out a form of government in tracking down illegal activities. Blackberry feels like this good but Apple feels like this is violating their's and their customer's privacy.
Important to an MIS student:
Everybody has a cell phone (honestly, I don't know who still has a Blackberry). This could lead the other phone manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung to decide to help a government or law enforcement in unlocking their phones for the safety of the people. Owners may be felt that if when this is needed, they privacy will be invaded and may choose not help them.
But the article points out, as do you, that it's not clear that the CEO of Blackberry gave out the encryption key. Morevoer, I happen to think Canadians have a very different opinion of the RCMP than we have of the FBI.
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