4 ms·

You're leaving out crucial information. Obama didn't keep his BlackBerry for classified information, he was given the then-standard government secure mobile com

by _djo_ 1y ago

You're leaving out crucial information. Obama didn't keep his BlackBerry for classified information, he was given the then-standard government secure mobile communications device, a Secure Mobile Environment Personal Encryption Device (SME-PED). More specifically, the device Obama was given was a Sectéra Edge [0][1] by General Dynamics, a device specifically designed to be able to operate on Top Secret voice and Secret data networks. It had hardware-level separation between the unclassified and classified sides, even having separate flash memory for both. [2] The NSA contributed to the design and certified it and another device (L3's Guardian) on the SCIP, HAIPE, Suite A/B, Type 1, and non-Type 1 security protocols. It was absolutely not a regular BlackBerry, it didn't run any RIM software, no data ever went through RIM's servers, and secure calls were encrypted and didn't use SS7. It was a clunky purpose-designed device for the entire US government to be able to access Secret information and conduct Top Secret voice calls on the go. Even then, there were limitations to when and where it could be used and when a SCIF was required. The current equivalent of the SME-PED programme is the DoD's Mobility Classified Capability[3], which are specially customised smartphones again made by General Dynamics. There is no excuse whatsoever for the current administration's use of Signal, let alone TeleMessage Signal, for Secret and Top Secret discussions on regular consumer and personal devices. It's deeply irresponsible and worse than any previous administration has done. [0] https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/obamas-new-blackberry-the-nsas-secure-pda/ https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/obamas-new-blackberr... [1] https://gdmissionsystems.com/discontinued-products/sectera-edge https://gdmissionsystems.com/discontinued-products/sectera-e... [2] https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA547816.pdf https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA547816.pdf [3] https://www.disa.mil/~/media/files/disa/fact-sheets/dmcc-s.pdf https://www.disa.mil/~/media/files/disa/fact-sheets/dmcc-s.p...

timschmidt 1y ago
Your reference [0] appears to contradict what you've said here. It speaks at length about several NSA approved options as alternatives, but says Obama used a BlackBerry. The photo attached to the article captioned "President-elect Barack Obama checks his BlackBerry while riding on his campaign bus in Pennsylvania last March." appears to show a blackberry. I take it from the article that this was as controversial as I remember it being at the time. Thanks for posting it.
- _djo_ 1y ago
  He was allowed to keep his BlackBerry for personal communication only, not classified communication, and had to use a Sectéra Edge for classified communication. [0] The Blackberry for personal use wasn't a stock BlackBerry, but hardened by the NSA and fitted with the SecurVoice software package to encrypt voice calls, emails, and messages. The few people he had on his approved communication list were given the same devices.[1] That BlackBerry was, again, not used for classified communication. So it's not the same thing as the current scandal. [0] https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jan/24/obamas-other-phone-has-itronix-shell/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jan/24/obamas-other-p... [1] https://www.wired.com/2009/04/obama-to-get-back-blackberry-at-last-toughened-by-nsa/ https://www.wired.com/2009/04/obama-to-get-back-blackberry-a...
  - timschmidt 1y ago
    > He was allowed to keep his BlackBerry for personal communication only, not classified communication Presence of the senior staff on his (very limited) contact list would seem to contradict that statement. Communication with them would be, by definition, not personal. I agree with you that our government officials should be using the secure infrastructure our patriotic service members and civil servants work so hard to build and maintain.
    - _djo_ 1y ago
      If you’d prefer, we can call it unclassified communication rather than personal communication. The point is that it was not used for Secret, Top Secret, or other classified communications. For that, he had the SME-PED device. So, again, it’s not a parallel to the current situation. Nobody is saying the SecDef and other staff shouldn’t have unclassified devices as well as their classified devices, the issue is that they’ve been using the unclassified devices to conduct Secret or Top Secret discussions.
      - timschmidt 1y ago
        [flagged]

by _djo_ 1y ago

timschmidt 1y ago

Your reference [0] appears to contradict what you've said here. It speaks at length about several NSA approved options as alternatives, but says Obama used a BlackBerry. The photo attached to the article captioned "President-elect Barack Obama checks his BlackBerry while riding on his campaign bus in Pennsylvania last March." appears to show a blackberry. I take it from the article that this was as controversial as I remember it being at the time. Thanks for posting it.

_djo_ 1y ago
He was allowed to keep his BlackBerry for personal communication only, not classified communication, and had to use a Sectéra Edge for classified communication. [0] The Blackberry for personal use wasn't a stock BlackBerry, but hardened by the NSA and fitted with the SecurVoice software package to encrypt voice calls, emails, and messages. The few people he had on his approved communication list were given the same devices.[1] That BlackBerry was, again, not used for classified communication. So it's not the same thing as the current scandal. [0] https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jan/24/obamas-other-phone-has-itronix-shell/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jan/24/obamas-other-p... [1] https://www.wired.com/2009/04/obama-to-get-back-blackberry-at-last-toughened-by-nsa/ https://www.wired.com/2009/04/obama-to-get-back-blackberry-a...
- timschmidt 1y ago
  > He was allowed to keep his BlackBerry for personal communication only, not classified communication Presence of the senior staff on his (very limited) contact list would seem to contradict that statement. Communication with them would be, by definition, not personal. I agree with you that our government officials should be using the secure infrastructure our patriotic service members and civil servants work so hard to build and maintain.
  - _djo_ 1y ago
    If you’d prefer, we can call it unclassified communication rather than personal communication. The point is that it was not used for Secret, Top Secret, or other classified communications. For that, he had the SME-PED device. So, again, it’s not a parallel to the current situation. Nobody is saying the SecDef and other staff shouldn’t have unclassified devices as well as their classified devices, the issue is that they’ve been using the unclassified devices to conduct Secret or Top Secret discussions.
    - timschmidt 1y ago
      [flagged]