Reaction Paper

A Blackberry is a handheld two-way wireless device manufactured by Research In Motion (RIM) that allows a user to send and receive email,voice mail and make cellular phone calls. (http://operationstech.about.com/od/glossar/g/BlackBerry.htm) It is also a complete package that includes airtime, software and choice of Blackberry mobile device. Blackberry is currently available in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. (http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/B/BlackBerry.html)

The policy banning the blackberry devices in the United Arab Emirates was a big alarming to the people who have been using the blackberry devices not only in communicating people as well as in transacting business. The said banning can be considered as an advantage to all but a disadvantage for a few. It is an advantage because the fact that the government cannot intercept and read the messages being sent from the device should give the users reasonably a sense of security towards what they are doing on their Blackberry will remain safe. It also an advantage because the banning can make some businesses feel that their transmissions are also being protected which is indispensable for sensitive documents. It is a disadvantage because somehow it will affect the people’s right of privacy. All individuals are mandated by the law to exercise their right of privacy and should not be violated. If the blackberry banning would be implemented, all the users of the said blackberry would not enjoyed the usual web browser thing considering that their easy access would be encrypted by the government control of the United Arab Emirates. The ban will risks damaging the UAE's reputation as a relatively easy place to do business. Furthermore, it will affect international visitors who might enter in their country via roaming services. Considering both might have a possible good and bad result in the end.

Assessing the aforesaid facts, the policy to ban the blackberry devices in the countries of United Arab Emirates is a reasonable policy because the latter’s government is concerned with the national security of their community because the operation of the devices is beyond the governments’ ability to monitor their use if they allow continuing the blackberry devices by the users. Although the banning will prevent hundreds of thousands of Blackberry users from accessing email but still they are the one who would be benefited of enforcing this policy due to security concerns. Therefore, I stand with my position that the policy to ban blackberry devices is a reasonable one and thus follow.

DISCLAIMER: This is posted only for compliance in Technology and the Law subject requirements.