U.S. "Concerned" about Green Dam
06-22 18:44 Caijing
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The U.S. Government is concerned about Green Dam both in terms of its potential impact on trade and the serious technical issues raised by use of the software.
By intern researcher Julian
Gewirtz
(Caijing.com.cn) The United States government
expressed concern Monday about China's plan to require an Internet filtering
software to ship with every new computer after July 1.
The
statement, which Caijing obtained from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, comes after
weeks of domestic and international controversy over the Green Dam-Youth Escort
software. It is an unusually direct criticism by the United States on an
issue that has caused unease in business, scientific, and legal
circles.
"The U.S. Government is concerned about Green Dam both in
terms of its potential impact on trade and the serious technical issues raised
by use of the software," the statement said.
In recent weeks, a
diverse chorus of voices in China has questioned the government's plan, which it
describes as anti-pornography. Caijing reported earlier that lawyers and
scholars have requested further information and recommended that the decision be
repealed. Some gay rights activists have protested the filtering of
homosexual-related content.
Others have raised concerns about
Green Dam's quality and security. A team at the University of Michigan reported
a range of problems and vulnerabilities. And California-based software
developer Solid Oak claims that the program contains illegally copied codes from
their own CyberSitter, a charge that Green Dam's creators deny.
A
June 11 editorial in the official China Daily about the plan was titled
"Questionable move" and argued, "There is a need for filtering software, but not
everyone needs it . . . There seems to be no need to impose it on each computer
sold."
Indeed, the requirement has itself evolved in response to
the public's responses. Initially, the government seemed to state that it
would require computer manufacturers to pre-install the Green Dam
software. But it later "clarified" these rules, saying that users could
install and uninstall the software at will.
On June 17, The Wall
Street Journal reported that a group of 19 trade organizations sent a letter to
the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology requesting that the Chinese
government "reconsider implementing the
requirements."
China's largest PC maker, Lenovo,
refused a request to comment. Dell and HP representatives did not return
interview requests on Monday afternoon, although Reuters quoted an HP
spokeswoman, Pamela Bonney, saying that the company was working "to seek
additional information, clarify open questions and monitor developments on this
matter."
But with the July 1 deadline fast approaching, the
future of Green Dam-Youth Escort remains uncertain.
The U.S.
government voiced its hope to "engage in a dialogue" with the Chinese
side. The American embassy in Beijing said it has expressed its concerns
to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and Ministry of
Commerce.
Although the Chinese have maintained their commitment to
Green Dam, which cost the government 41.7 million yuan, their tone has
moderated. "The government's role is limited to having the software developed
and providing it free," said an unnamed official quoted by the China
Daily.
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