Kuwait likely to follow UAE, Saudi BlackBerry ban

Kuwait officials are likely to follow Saudi Arabia and the UAE with a ban on certain BlackBerry services, local Arab media has reported.

According to a report in Al Rai newspaper, the country’s Interior Ministry raised the possibility of a block on services due to security concerns last month.

The newspaper said officials had written to BlackBerry makers Research In Motion (RIM) asking them for a central server located in Kuwait to allow data to be monitored, but as yet had received no response.

Meanwhile, sources told Alem Al Yam newspaper: "Kuwait is looking at the option in line with the UAE and Saudi Arabia's decisions in order to ensure that the services are not used by terrorists who could communicate away from any form of control.”

RIM has agreed to allow Indian security agencies to monitor its BlackBerry services after pressure from governments worried about national security. This follows a similar move to allow Chinese officials access to monitor messages sent on the devices.