BlackBerry operates beyond law: UAE

Dubai, Jul 26: United Arab Emirates (UAE) had warned the users of BlackBerry over its security risk issue.

Gulf state Bahrain had warned in Apr 2010 against the use of BlackBerry Messenger software to distribute local news.

Media freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders had called the BlackBerry messenger as an act of censorship.

Certain applications of BlackBerry, which holds above 20 percent of the global smartphone market behind Nokia but ahead of Apple, can be curbed to use in the other states of UEA.

UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority said, "BlackBerry was operating beyond the jurisdiction of national legislation."

"As a result of how BlackBerry data is managed and stored, in their current form, certain BlackBerry applications allow people to misuse the service, causing serious social, judicial and national security repercussions," added the authority.

The authorities also had stated that the UAE had been working to resolve these critical issues to safeguard their consumers and operates within the boundaries of UAE law.

OneIndia News