China delays mandatory installation of web-filtering software

by Jamie Anderson - July 1, 2009 - 0 comments

<strong>Beijing, July 1:</strong> Buckling under the pressure exerted by the U.S. government and the international technology industry, the Chinese authorities have put off its controversial directive that necessitated all personal computers to be accompanied by content-filtering software.

The Chinese mandate that all PCs should come preloaded with an internet filtering software has been pushed back. The software named Green Dam Youth Escort reportedly cost the government over $6 million for the development, future maintenance and updates of the software

Beijing, July 1: Buckling under the pressure exerted by the U.S. government and the international technology industry, the Chinese authorities have put off its controversial directive that necessitated all personal computers to be accompanied by content-filtering software.

The software named Green Dam-Youth Escort is capable of blocking pornography and offensive political sites and was required to be installed on all computers sold on or after July 1, 2009. The implementation of the same has now been put in abeyance indefinitely.

Decision to postpone welcomed
Hailing the Chinese government’s decision to defer the mandatory installation of the software, John Neuffer, vice president of the Information Technology Industry Council, said, “We welcome China's delay in the implementation of the Green Dam mandate.”

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with the U.S. government on this matter and seek market-based solutions that enable consumer choice that is consistent with global norms and protects children on the Internet," Neuffer added.

Flawed software
The software, developed by Jinhui Computer System Engineering Co, had some technical flaws and made the PC malfunction at times.

Researchers who investigated the software stated that the application had the potential to freeze a browser each time the surfer types the letter F into the location bar.

In a missive sent by the U.S. Department of Commerce to the Chinese government, the former had listed "numerous concerns raised by global technology companies, Chinese citizens, and the worldwide media about the stability of the software, the scope and extent of the filtering activities and its security weaknesses".

China’s crusade against pornography
The Chinese government has maintained that the Green Dam application is a potent instrument to thwart children from accessing objectionable sites and that the policy was announced "in response to calls from many schools and parents".

China has always been in the forefront against Internet content that it deems is damaging to the society. Some of the Google Inc. services that reportedly contaminated the country were also temporarily shut down by the government.

Richard Lim, a managing partner at Beijing-based venture capital fund GSR Ventures aptly puts it, “If you operate an Internet business in China, you know there are really only two topics to avoid. You avoid politics - especially certain types of politics - and you avoid pornography. Pretty much everything else is fair game."

Last edited by Jaspreet Virk on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 08:53 | Write to author: Jamie Anderson |