US President Obama may continue to communicate privately
His fight has paid off: US President Barack Obama can keep his beloved Blackberry. However, he will receive a new, spy-proof device. In addition, all his messages will be recorded.
His fight has paid off: US President Barack Obama can keep his beloved Blackberry. However, he will receive a new, spy-proof device. In addition, all his messages will be recorded.
As The Atlantic magazine reported on Thursday, Obama will be allowed to send private text and e-mail messages with a new special device costing 3,350 dollars. Before being sworn in as the 44th US President, he had declared that his multifunctional pocket computer would have to be "ripped out of his hands" if the device was to be confiscated for security reasons as planned. His reasoning: emails and phone calls from friends could help him stay in touch with everyday reality during his time in office.
The US Secret Service had feared that foreign intelligence services could gain access to the president's Internet mailbox and thus obtain confidential information. There are also concerns that such a device could reveal the location of the head of state. However, this should not be possible with the new special device. In addition, only a small group of staff and friends will be authorized to communicate with Barack Obama via his personal Blackberry, explained Robert Gibbs, the new White House Press Secretary, on Thursday.
The Presidential Recording Act has been in force in the USA since the Watergate affair. The law requires all presidential documents to be archived and published on request.
As The Atlantic magazine reported on Thursday, Obama will be allowed to send private text and e-mail messages with a new special device costing 3,350 dollars. Before being sworn in as the 44th US President, he had declared that his multifunctional pocket computer would have to be "ripped out of his hands" if the device was to be confiscated for security reasons as planned. His reasoning: emails and phone calls from friends could help him stay in touch with everyday reality during his time in office.
The US Secret Service had feared that foreign intelligence services could gain access to the president's Internet mailbox and thus obtain confidential information. There are also concerns that such a device could reveal the location of the head of state. However, this should not be possible with the new special device. In addition, only a small group of staff and friends will be authorized to communicate with Barack Obama via his personal Blackberry, explained Robert Gibbs, the new White House Press Secretary, on Thursday.
The Presidential Recording Act has been in force in the USA since the Watergate affair. The law requires all presidential documents to be archived and published on request.
