China plans to require that all personal computers sold in the country as of July 1 be shipped with software that blocks access to certain Web sites, a move that could give government censors unprecedented control over how Chinese users access the Internet.The government, which has told global PC makers of the requirement but has yet to announce it to the public, says the effort is aimed at protecting young people from “harmful” content. The primary target is pornography, says the main developer of the software, a company that has ties to China’s security ministry and military.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124440211524192081.html [sub req’d]
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,25603145-36375,00.htmlAlso see:China Requires Censorship Software on New Computers
China has issued a sweeping directive requiring all personal computers sold in the country to include sophisticated software that can filter out pornography and other “unhealthy information” from the Internet.The software, which manufacturers must install on all new PCs starting July 1, would allow the government to regularly update computers with an ever-changing list of banned Web sites.
http://nytimes.com/2009/06/09/world/asia/09china.htmlChina orders PC makers to install blocking software
Computer makers in China have been instructed to pre-install blocking software on every PC hard drive from next month, under a government push to control access to the internet.The new software, which has been developed by companies working with the Chinese military, is specifically aimed at restricting online pornography, but it could also be used to strengthen barriers to politically sensitive websites.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/08/web-blocking-software-chinaChina’s Green Dam-Youth Escort net filter draws fire
China’s requirement that internet filtering software be included with all personal computers sold in the country has been seized on by the Opposition as a sign the Federal Government’s proposed internet censorship scheme won’t work.The Oppositions’ communications spokesman, Nick Minchin, said the move showed that PC-level filters were a more practical option than the ISP-level filters that form the basis of the Government’s policy.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/06/09/1244313123970.html
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/06/09/1244313123970.htmlChina seen requiring PCs to block sites
China’s government wants all PCs sold in the country from July 1 to be loaded with software that blocks certain websites, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE5570DP20090608
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/07/AR2009060702699.html
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