Buyers to decide whether to use porn-filtering software in ChinaJune 16th, 2009 BEIJING - Customers purchasing computers in China will have the option of buying or not buying government-sponsored porn-filtering software, an official has said. The China Daily quoted the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)official as saying: "PC makers are only required to save the setup files of the program in the hard drives of the computers, or provide CD-ROMs containing the program with their PC packages."
The users have the final say on the installation of the Green Dam-Youth Escort, so it is misleading to say the government compels PC users to use the software, the official clarified.
Chinese Govt. delays orders on software designed to block pornographyJuly 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Chinese Government has delayed the mandatory installation of the controversial "Green Dam-Youth Escort" filtering software on new computers that was scheduled to start today. The software is designed to block violence and pornographic content on the Internet to protect minors, but users have repeatedly raised concerns about invasion of privacy.
US trade officials urge China to revoke their censorship ridden softwareJune 24th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US trade officials sent a letter to their Chinese counterparts Wednesday urging them to revoke an order that requires a controversial internet filtering software to be installed on computers. The Green Dam software, which China will require on all new computers from July 1, could be used to restrict free speech and raises questions about free trade, US Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said in a letter to the Chinese government.
China scraps mandated filtering software, at least temporarily, amid censorship complaintsJune 30th, 2009 China scraps filtering software mandate _ for nowBEIJING — China's state media says the government will postpone enforcement of a new rule mandating all new computers be sold with a filtering software. The rule was to go into effect starting Wednesday, but the official Xinhua News Agency said in a brief report late Tuesday that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology had decided to delay the plan.
"Green Dam Youth Escort" software was 'not handled well' in ChinaAugust 14th, 2009 BEIJING - A senior Chinese government official has said that the implementation of the "Green Dam Youth Escort" software, which filters online pornographic, was "not thoughtful enough". The government had demanded in May, through a directive issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), that all personal computer manufacturers should ensure that the filtering software was included with all computers sold in China by July 1.
China installs censorship software in over 500,000 PCsJuly 2nd, 2009 SHANGHAI - Under the controversial Green Dam computer program, China has already installed censorship software in over half-a-million computers. According to a report in The Telegraph, the Green Dam program has been downloaded three million times since the end of March and has been installed on 518,000 computers.
China drops plans to force "Green Dam Youth Escort" softwareAugust 13th, 2009 BEIJING - China's Industry and Information Technology Minister Li Yizhong has said that the "Green Dam Youth Escort" software would now be "voluntary", providing users an opportunity to decide if they want to install it or not. "When users buy computers, they will be provided the software disk.
California company alleges stolen code used in new Chinese filtering softwareJune 13th, 2009 Company alleges Chinese software has stolen code
SAN FRANCISCO — A California company claims that the Internet-filtering software China has mandated for all new personal computers sold there contains stolen programming code. Solid Oak Software of Santa Barbara said Friday that parts of its filtering software, which is designed for parents, are being used in the "Green Dam-Youth Escort" filtering software that must be packaged with all computers sold in China from July 1.
China postpones controversial Web filter after protests by Washington, Chinese Web surfersJune 30th, 2009 China backs down from requirement for Web filterBEIJING — In a rare reversal, China's government gave in to domestic and international pressure and backed down Tuesday from a rule that would have required personal computers sold in the country to have Internet-filtering software. Just hours before the rule was to have taken effect, the government said it would postpone the requirement for the "Green Dam" software.
China defends requiring PCs to carry online filtering software, says it targets pornographyJune 9th, 2009 China defends Web-filtering software requirementBEIJING — China on Tuesday defended a new requirement that personal computers sold in the country carry a software that filters online content, saying the program is targeted at preventing the spread of pornography and other "unhealthy" content. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology posted on its Web site Tuesday a notice to all PC makers that they will be required to pre-load the "Green Dam-Youth Escort" filtering software on units to be sold in China as of July 1, including imported PCs.
Business groups, companies appeal to China to drop Web filter plan, citing security worriesJune 27th, 2009 Companies appeal to China to drop Web filter planBEIJING — Global business groups have made an unusual direct appeal to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to scrap an order for PC makers to supply controversial Internet filtering software, citing security and privacy concerns. Just days before the deadline to comply with China's order, the letter from 22 chambers of commerce and trade groups representing the world's major technology suppliers adds to pressure on Beijing to halt the plan following an official protest by Washington.
Some PC makers voluntarily supply Web filter in China despite postponement of government planJuly 2nd, 2009 PC makers voluntarily supply Web filter in ChinaBEIJING — Several PC makers were including controversial Internet-filtering software with computers shipped in China on Thursday despite a government decision to postpone its plan to make such a step mandatory. Beijing's decision this week to delay the requirement that the filtering software — known as Green Dam — be pre-installed or supplied on disk with all computers sold in China averted a possible trade clash with the United States and Europe.
The PC industry cautiously welcomes China's filtering softwareJune 11th, 2009 BEIJING - The Chinese Government's decision to provide computers with software packages for filtering online pornographic contents has received cautious welcome from PC makers, yet many Internet users are sceptical of the software's capacity.Chinese authorities had earlier rejected media reports that claim that the government is installing spy ware on all computers in the guise of porn filters. Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Tuesday announced that all computers produced or sold in China after July 1 would be installed with the software package combining Green Dam and Minor Escort programs.
China backpedals on unpopular filtering software, says installation not required for allJune 16th, 2009 China says unpopular filtering software optionalBEIJING — China appeared to cave in to public pressure Tuesday by announcing that computer users are not required to install Internet-filtering software — though it will still come with all PCs sold on the mainland. A Ministry of Industry and Information Technology official reached by telephone told The Associated Press that use of the Green Dam Youth Escort software is "not compulsory." He would not give his name as is customary with Chinese officials.
Chinese Govt Explains and assures us of their net filtering software which may only be half trueJune 11th, 2009 China defends net filtering software amid outcry
BEIJING — Chinese state media on Thursday issued an unprecedented defense of newly required Internet filtering software that must be packaged with every computer sold in China starting next month, after a public outcry at home and abroad. Although the government says the software is aimed at blocking violence and pornography, users who have tried it say it prevents access to a wide range of topics, from discussions of homosexuality to images of comic book characters such as Garfield the cat.
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