Home minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said government?s stand on Blackberry mobile phone maker Research In Motion (RIM) providing access to data is ?firm? and there is ?no uncertainty? over the issue. Chidambaram also made it clear that security of the nation would not be compromised for operations of Research In Motion (RIM), Google or Skype.
The minister said RIM has agreed to provide access to a part of communications transmitted through the RIM system. These have become operational from Wednesday.
Chidambaram said this at a CII function where he presented the report card of his ministry for August.
?Discussions are on for the technical solutions to get further access to the data. The matter will be reviewed within 60 days,? Chidambaram said.
Also present at the function, home secretary GK Pillai said, ?People who operate communication services in India should provide access to law enforcement agencies and a server in India as well. This has been made clear to RIM and to other companies as well.?
Officials said other service providers included Google, internet phone call provider Skype and Virtual Private Network (VPN). These service providers have been issued notices earlier. All of them were asked to comply with the directive and provide an access to their services in the next 60 days or shut shops in India, ministry officials said.
?There will be no discrimination. All networks operating in India will have to provide an access to their services to law enforcement agencies,? an official said. He said Nokia, which wanted to introduce push-mail service in India, has already agreed to set up a server in India.
The home ministry has discussed security concerns related to voice and messaging services offered by Google and Skype in India, both of which have considerable presence in the country.