Snippet: Whose Privacy is It Anyway? ☇

BlackBerry CEO John Chen on privacy and encryption:

For years, government officials have pleaded to the technology industry for help yet have been met with disdain. In fact, one of the world’s most powerful tech companies recently refused a lawful access request in an investigation of a known drug dealer because doing so would “substantially tarnish the brand” of the company. We are indeed in a dark place when companies put their reputations above the greater good. At BlackBerry, we understand, arguably more than any other large tech company, the importance of our privacy commitment to product success and brand value: privacy and security form the crux of everything we do. However, our privacy commitment does not extend to criminals.

“The greater good” varies depending on who you ask, not to mention that each government may see their rights to your information a lot differently than you or the manufacturer of your device do. While it is a tough balance, I’d argue that it’s better to err on the side of protecting the consumer, especially in the post-Snowden era.