President-elect Barack Obama will be cut off from using his Blackberry when he takes office because the U.S. Government can’t guarantee the full security of his communications. The ban might even extend into his use of email, which insiders believe will be a difficult transition for the tech-savvy next leader of the free world.
Even though he won’t take the Oath of Office for another two months, Obama is already considered the most tech-friendly President ever. As we found out last week, he uses an Apple Macbook as his notebook PC and kept in touch with his family during the campaign through the iChat webcam program. That’s on top of his campaign’s success in using the internet to amass kajillions of dollars from ordinary Americans, as well as the success of the MyBarackObama.com volunteer network.
The Blackberry is one of President-elect Obama’s favorite gadgets because it allowed him to be constantly updated throughout the campaign. Like many other people, the belt-fastened phone became more than a fashion accessory – it proved indispensable as he used it to receive advice from old friends in Chicago, check out baseball scores, and take a peek at the latest memos from his aides.
According to the New York Times, Obama’s BlackBerry messages are "crisp, properly spelled and free of symbols or emoticons." Which means that he probably did not send a message to Sen. John McCain on election night that looked anything like this: Pwned! 2 Bad 4 U, Sen.! : )
Georgetown University Professor and Presidential tech analyst Diana Owen says that the possible hacking of the Obama BlackBerry is a threat that is best dealt with by not using it at all. And though maintaining the security of personal communications is the main reason why he will be forced off of it, the Presidential Records Act is another thorn in his side. The act says that any correspondence by the President or VP is owned by the public and subject to historical review.
But even if he doesn’t get to use his smart phone or even email, aides say that Obama is determined to be the first President to use a laptop in the Oval Office. We say it’s about time.
Photo: wireimage.com
See also:
- For TV Networks, Election Is an Orgy of Gee-Whiz 3-D Tech
- Candidate Supporters' Use of Gadgets as Symbols Reveal Power of Brands
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