Canadian smartphone maker BlackBerry has announced to exit Pakistan entirely in response to the national government’s continued demand to monitor user data on the Canadian company’s service.
It was widely believed that Blackberry’s encrypted data – secure email and messaging – was inhibiting government and intelligence agencies from collecting user information. The terse statement from PTA – directing telecos to ensure Blackberry services are blocked by the end of November – suggested clear and unflinching orders had come from above.
In July it was decided by Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) said it would shutter BlackBerry Enterprise Services (known as BES) by December 1 for “security reasons.”
The company kept silent at that time but now confirmed it will leave the country after November 30 after it refused to grant Pakistani authorities access to its systems.
