Phone maker seeks talks on data with India

MUMBAI, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- BlackBerry's maker is calling for a broad debate on data security as India demands access to its traffic for its spy agencies.

Days before the government's Monday deadline for its response, Canadian company Research in Motion is proposing an "industry forum" on preventing the misuse of encrypted data traffic while protecting privacy, Britain's Financial Times reports.

A showdown with RIM is looming as the government has ordered Indian mobile operators to close down BlackBerry's heavily encrypted corporate e-mail and messaging service unless RIM hands over its codes to allow interception.

But RIM and independent experts say it cannot comply. BlackBerry messages are encrypted at the individual customer level and the data stored in customers' servers. RIM says it does not have the keys to unlock of its customers' codes, which is why BlackBerry is one of the most secure corporate e-mail services in the world.

The Indian government said Friday it was still looking for a resolution that would give it access to encrypted data. "We are not in the business of shutting down services," said Sachin Pilot, junior telecoms minister.

BlackBerry has run into similar security issues with Middle Eastern nations.