RIM's Bargaining Chip for Dodging Future International BlackBerry Bans: Privacy

Research In Motion (RIM) has had a tough time of things in the United Arab Emirates. Citing encryption concerns, the BlackBerry was almost banned. But RIM and the UAE struck a last-minute deal. And when Saudi Arabia threatened a similar ban, RIM agreed to place a server inside Saudi Arabia and grant access to an undisclosed amount of user information. In the end, the deals that saved RIM from a ban that could set a dangerous precedent for anyone, particularly in the Mid East, who prefers the government keep its nose out of private citizens' BBMs, SMS's, emails, and more.