Emirates to crack down on BlackBerry

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The United Arab Emirates’ looming crackdown on BlackBerry services will extend to foreign visitors using roaming, putting the government’s concerns over the smart phones in direct conflict with the country’s ambitions to be a business and tourism haven.The Emirates’ telecoms regulator said yesterday that travellers to the city-state of Dubai and the important oil industry centre of Abu Dhabi would – like the 500 000 local subscribers – have to do without BlackBerry email, messaging and Web services starting in October.Emirati authorities said the move was based on security concerns because BlackBerry data was automatically shipped to company computers abroad, where it was stored and difficult for local authorities to monitor for illegal activity or abuse. Critics of the crackdown said it was also a way for the country’s conservative government to further control content they deemed politically or morally objectionable. The handsets themselves would still be allowed.The ban is due to take effect October 11. (AP)