14 DAY TRIAL // RIM has temporarily suspended its talks with the Indian government about the lawful interception of BlackBerry communications, after details of confidential meetings have repeatedly leaked into the media.
The company's decision comes after information from a December 29 meeting between RIM and government officials, was published in the Economic Times (ET), a large Indian business daily.
ET reported that RIM asked for between 18 and 24 months to meet all of the country's security expectations regarding BlackBerry communications.
The newspaper's report contained a lot of details, including the names of the representatives on both sides who attended the meeting and a down-to-the-minute timeline of the talks.
The Canadian High Commissioner Stewart Beck got involved and sent an official letter to the Indian Home Secretary GK Pillai expressing "complete disbelief" that confidential discussions have been leaked to the media and used in articles damaging to RIM's image.
Beck described the leaks to the media as counterproductive and noted that they undermine the confidence necessary for such negotiations to take place.
One has to wonder, then, how will the High Commissoner feel when he will learn that significant parts of his communication to Mr. Pillai were quoted by ET in a new article published today.
For example, Beck wrote to Pillai that "I trust you will understand that this does not diminish the company’s desire to fully cooperate with your ministry nor does it diminish the company’s commitment to the Indian market. It is a necessary precaution to safeguard the company’s larger interests."
ET also obtained a separate communication sent to Telecommunications Minister Kapil Sibal by RIM’s Vice-President for industry, government and university relations, Robert E Crow, informing him that talks are suspended until he personally assesses the situation.