UAE to block BlackBerry e-mail

It's not often that the UAE makes the front page of the New York Times, but they did this weekend. The story in brief: BlackBerry phones encrypt e-mail, meaning the government can't monitor the messages. The UAE government is not happy about that and has decided to ban them. Saudi Arabia announced that they will follow suit.

Knowing that e-mails can be monitored in the Emirates is disturbing, but hardly surprising. Every week I come across a website that is "banned." (One of the most bizarre banned websites is Andrew Sullivan, whose link is on the right side of the page. Andrew is very critical of Israel so his blog should be welcome. Go figure.)

The trouble for the Emirates is that they want to be a major tourist/financial hub. Telling business people they can't use their BlackBerries when they come will unquestionably dampen the spirit.