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Company

BlackBerry

Filtered to Controversies ×
152 articles decelerating

QNX software now controls safety features in 275 million cars as BlackBerry redirects attention from its divested cybersecurity arm toward automotive software and robots.

Who they are

BlackBerry appears in coverage as a former handset maker that moved away from designing and manufacturing its own phones toward software, security and embedded systems. Its current story centers on QNX, the operating-system business used in vehicles, while recent corporate reporting also tracks the rise and subsequent sale of its Cylance cybersecurity operation.

The recent arc

Recent coverage first concentrated in late 2023 on a strategic reset: John Chen’s retirement, Richard Lynch’s interim appointment, and then John Giamatteo’s appointment as CEO. Reuters reported plans to separate the IoT and cybersecurity units and pursue an IoT subsidiary IPO, but Bloomberg later reported that BlackBerry would no longer spin off the IoT business.

The narrative shifted again in 2024-26 from separation to concentration. TechCrunch reported the $160 million sale of Cylance to Arctic Wolf, against BlackBerry’s $1.4 billion 2018 acquisition price. The latest stories profile QNX as software controlling safety features in 275 million cars and describe its positioning as an operating system for robots; Sherwood News tied that reframing to a stock rise of more than 160% over three months.

The tension

Coverage circles the contrast between BlackBerry’s legacy consumer-device retreat and its effort to establish QNX as a durable embedded-software platform. The earlier Android-phone transition and end of in-house handset development marked the break with the mobile era, while the Cylance sale underscores the difficulty of making cybersecurity the second pillar alongside QNX.

Why it matters

If QNX’s automotive installed base can translate into broader robotics and embedded-system demand, BlackBerry’s relevance could increasingly rest on infrastructure software rather than its phone brand. But the reversal on an IoT spin-off and the Cylance write-down show that the company’s narrower focus is still being tested by execution and by whether QNX can sustain growth beyond its established vehicle footprint.

BlackBerry has appeared in 152 articles since 2014-12. Coverage peaked in 2021Q1 with 6 articles. Frequently mentioned alongside Android, Facebook, Nokia, Google.

Articles
152
mentions
Velocity
-66.7%
growth rate
Acceleration
-2.667
velocity change
Sources
40
publications

Coverage Timeline

2021-08-18
Politico 19 related

BlackBerry discloses a critical flaw in QNX OS, impacting 200M+ cars, hospital equipment, more; sources say it resisted public disclosure until talks with CISA

A flaw in software made by BlackBerry has left two hundred million cars, along with critical hospital and factory equipment …

2021-01-26
Wired 24 related

A look at r/WallStreetBets, a 2M-member subreddit that helped push GameStop's stock to record highs and is now facing allegations of harassment

Over the past several weeks, GameStop stock has traded … Philip Stafford / Financial Times : GameStop and BlackBerry shares soar on amateur traders' fervour YouTube : The Big Short SQUEEZE from $5 to ...

2020-03-11
New York Times

Alphabet's Sidewalk Labs scales back Toronto smart city project prompted by local privacy critics, who argue it exploits people's data from the physical world

Faced with an array of opponents for its sensor-laden city of tomorrow in Toronto, a Google sibling has dramatically dialed back plans. Tweets: @rafael_a_calvo , @mikethebbop , @bhaggart , @sallan_fou...

2019-04-14
The Walrus

Interview with RIM cofounder Jim Balsillie about his advocacy against the rise of surveillance capitalism in Canada and the Sidewalk Toronto smart city project

The entrepreneur who made billions putting BlackBerrys into pockets is now sounding the alarm about Big Tech's creep toward surveillance capitalism Tweets: @hkanji and @jasonmoyse Tweets: Hussein Kanj...

2017-01-12
The Verge 13 related

Donald Trump to hold meetings on a “regular basis” with private sector firms focusing on cybersecurity preparedness, organized by Rudy Giuliani

in cybersecurity David M Jackson / USA Today : Trump taps Giuliani as cybersecurity adviser Damian Paletta / Wall Street Journal : Trump Taps Giuliani for Undefined Role Advising On Cybersecurity Matt...

2016-03-28
Washington Post 1 related

Clinton email scandal began with her desire to keep using an impossible-to-secure personal BlackBerry, transmitting classified docs over insecure communications

How Clinton's email scandal took root  —  Hillary Clinton's email problems began in her first days as secretary of state.

2016-03-19
Ars Technica 10 related

FOIA request shows NSA refused to give Hillary Clinton a modified BlackBerry like Obama's, so she used her own even though her staff knew the security risks

Sean Gallagher / Ars Technica :

2016-03-18
Ars Technica 8 related

FOIA request shows NSA refused to give Hillary Clinton a modified BlackBerry like Obama's, so she used her own even though her staff knew the security risks

NSA refused Clinton a secure BlackBerry like Obama, so she used her own  —  Condaleeza Rice had one, but NSA balked at bulk support State wanted, docs show.

2016-01-18
Inside BlackBerry 4 related

BlackBerry dismisses claim that Netherlands Forensic Institute cracked its device encryption, suggesting user error or third-party apps may be involved

BlackBerry Devices: Secure As They Have Always Been  —  There have been recent media reports that police-affiliated groups in the Netherlands …

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Quarterly Coverage

Top Sources

Narrative

BlackBerry has appeared in 160 tech news articles since December 2014. The biggest stories include BlackBerry CEO Wants Legislators To Make Developing BlackBerry Apps Mandatory and BlackBerry is suing Facebook, alleging that many of Facebook's messaging services.... Frequently covered alongside Android, Nokia, Priv, QNX, and CNET. Coverage has shifted toward safety themes and away from enterprise.

Key Moments

2026Q2enterprise -67pts; safety +33pts

Relationships

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