Blackberry agrees to filter porn in Indonesia

Blackberry agrees to filter porn in Indonesia

2011-01-18 10:43:31 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- With cell phone maker Blackberry agreeing to block pornography in its Indonesian phones, the country's communication ministry said the company has until Friday to finalize the mechanism, local media reported on Monday.

Indonesian Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring said Canadian-based tech company Research in Motion (RIM) will not be able to extend or modify the deadline, warning that if it is not able to create a pornography website filter in its smartphones, its permits would be revoked, the Jakarta Globe reported.

While Blackberry phones usually connect to local internet service providers, in Indonesia, the phones are directly linked to its Canadian-based servers. Because of this, officials from the information ministry is expecting RIM to bring in hardware directly from Canada.

"We are very pleased in terms of the dialogue and we fully understand the needs and requirements articulated by the ministry, and we are committed to providing solutions to satisfy the needs and requirements of the ministry and the Indonesian government related to BlackBerry service in Indonesia," Gregory Wade, the company's managing director for Southeast Asia, said during a press conference at the Sapta Pesona building in Central Jakarta.

Indonesia is currently Blackberry's biggest market in Southeast Asia and the company has shown willingness to make its filter by the placed deadline. In addition, RIM explained that it will be working along with Indonesia's six operators that provide services to the phone.

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