RIM Starts Internet Filters in Indonesia

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. said it has started Internet filtering on its smartphones in Indonesia just ahead of a pending deadline, the first such move in any country.

The Indonesian government since last year has been telling Internet service providers in the country to block customers from viewing websites with pornographic material. The move put pressure on RIM, as the company is known, to install filters by a Jan 21 deadline. "RIM is now in the process of implementing an Internet content-filtering solution that addresses our carrier partners' regulatory obligations in Indonesia. ...We are pleased to have implemented the solution in advance of the date requested by the ministry," RIM said. In response, Indonesian Communication Minister Tifatul Sembiring -- who has been at the forefront of the government's efforts to clamp down on pornography -- said on his Twitter account; "Thank God RIM has complied with Indonesian regulations. Pornography has been blocked. Please go ahead with business as usual in compliance with the law." The move could resolve one of a number of conflicts RIM has found itself in with other governments. In most cases, the source of contention is BlackBerry message encryption.