Blaming BBM?

By Travis Persaud

An easy scapegoat, a ploy by Steve Jobs or the actual culprit?

Whatever the reason, the blame for London’s worst riots in decades has been put squarely on the shoulders of Research in Motion‘s (RIM) BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) by David Lammy, Member of Parliament for Tottenham.

The lawmaker has asked for RIM to suspend its instant messaging service, which rioters allegedly used to help mobilize their attacks. The Waterloo, Ont.-based company said it would cooperate with the Scotland Yard inquiry that their messaging service was used to coordinate the riots.

The BBM service is encrypted so police aren’t able to access user information. However, hackers didn’t have much trouble accessing RIM’s blog earlier today. They posted a message vowing to release company information if RIM cooperates with the police.

One has to wonder if simply suspending BBM will quell the riots. Or will the ample avenues of technology provide other means to rally the masses and continue the coordinated riots?

Despite the alleged use of BBM to incite these riots, the positive side of social media was in clear view today. Hundreds of people armed with brooms, rubber gloves and garbage bags met on the streets to help clean up their city. The masses came after messages on Twitter and Facebook got the word out.