U.S., Canada fight proposed BlackBerry ban in UAE

WASHINGTON - The U.S. and Canadian governments have started talks with authorities in countries including the United Arab Emirates to try and head off possible bans on the use of Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry.

Canadian Trade Minister Peter Van Loan told reporters Thursday that his country's officials are working with Ontario-based RIM and foreign governments to find a solution to disputes over the device. The U.S. government is discussing a proposed ban in the UAE with that country's government, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday.

"There is a legitimate security concern," Clinton said, "but there's also a legitimate right of free use and access."

RIM faces growing scrutiny over its BlackBerry e-mail and messaging services in countries from the UAE and Saudi Arabia to India and Lebanon. Indonesia, the world's fourth most-populous nation, became the latest country to express concern about BlackBerry services.

RIM's service for large corporate customers routes e-mails through its own servers, which are often physically located in a country different from the user, with the data encrypted throughout the system. The company also provides an Internet-based service for smaller customers and consumers.

RIM spokeswoman Marisa Conway didn't immediately return a call or message seeking comment Thursday.

- Bloomberg News