Do Service Providers Have An Obligation To Their Customers?
The recent flap between Blackberry maker Research In Motion and two Middle Eastern countries has again raised the question about service providers and their loyalty. Should they be loyal to the people that buy their products, thus giving them a reason for being? Or, should they be loyal to governing bodies?
The problem we are increasingly facing is the invasion of privacy that many governments commit. From the U.S. to Saudi Arabia, several countries are guilty. Our communications providers are no longer fighting the government when it comes to protecting our privacy. They are simply giving them free reign.
People are now left wondering whether their communications have any way of being private. In all honesty, probably not anymore. Here in the U.S., legislation like the Patriot Act have given the government sweeping powers to spy on the populace. It’s highly unlikely their going to give up that power any time soon.
If I were in leadership at RIM, I would have stood up to the Middle Eastern governments. If more communications companies would do that, it might actually make a difference. Then again, their commitment to profit trumps everything.