British MP calls to suspend BlackBerry messenger

A British member of Parliament has allegedly called on BlackBerry maker Research In Motion to suspend the use of its messaging service while the London riots continue. The call comes even though RIM has said it will be working with authorities in London after it became clear some looters were using the service to organise […]

Patrick Stafford 09 August, 2011

A British member of Parliament has allegedly called on BlackBerry maker Research In Motion to suspend the use of its messaging service while the London riots continue.

The call comes even though RIM has said it will be working with authorities in London after it became clear some looters were using the service to organise attacks, in communications untraceable by police.

But member of Parliament David Lammy has said on Twitter the BlackBerry messaging service is different “as it is encrypted and police can’t access it”.

“This is one of the reasons why unsophisticated criminals are outfoxing an otherwise sophisticated police force,” he said.