By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – Starting next month, China, one of the world’s fastest-growing PC markets, will require mandatory Internet filtering software in all computers sold in the country.  Despite outcry from the computer industry, users and free speech advocates, the Chinese government is not backing down saying that the software is to protect citizens from violence and pornography.

Guangming Daily, the official Communist Party newspaper, ran an article promoting this new software called “Green Dam Youth Escort” as a breakthrough in “civilized Internet management and access.”

However, opponents of this new directive are not convinced.  Requiring mandatory filtering software raises the question of censorship and concerns of allowing the government to monitor Internet use to collect personal information.  Furthermore, computer experts are unsure as to of what this software is capable, its reliability, and whether this software could affect a computer’s operating system and other software.

Chinese girl web surfing at an Internet cafe in Henan Province (Source: AP)

Li Fangping, a human rights lawyer in Beijing, has demanded a public hearing on the lawfulness and reasonableness of the government’s new plan saying, “This administrative action lacks legal basis.  Designating that the same software must be installed in all computers affects citizens’ right to choose.”  He told Reuters, “We know that [Chinese] citizens have been prosecuted because of their private emails, and we’re worried about more such cases.”

Chinese authorities rarely justify their actions and are quick to block dissent, especially contents that concern democratic reforms, policies toward Tibet or challenge the Communist Party’s positions.

Developers of the software have said that “Green Dam” can be uninstalled by entering a password, but others are worried that this technology can be expanded into a general censorship.

China currently has more than 250 million Internet users.

For more information, please see:

MSNBC – China defends filtering software amid outcry – 11 June 2009

New York Times – China Takes Heavy Criticism Over Software Directive – 10 June 2009

People’s Daily Online – Questions for China’s porn filtering software – 10 June 2009

The Washington Post – China Internet filter challenged in rights uproar – 11 June 2009