PC Makers Want No Part of Green Dam
At the center of the controversy is the Green Dam software that, once installed on a PC, blocks the Web browser from pornographic and violent content. But when the public objected, noting that the software could also censor other content -- specifically that of a political nature, China said it wasn't mandatory that Green Dam be used. It was simply against the law to not have it installed.
Oh.
An unidentified official with China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology told The Associated Press that the use of the Green Dam Youth Escort software is "not compulsory." However, all computers sold on mainland China will, by July 1, feature the filtering software; individuals are free to decide whether they use it.
Isn't that the opposite argument that Microsoft is facing in Europe? The European Union claims that because Microsoft's Internet Explorer is pre-stalled, users will be hard-pressed to not use that browser by default. So, if Green Dam is already installed, won't it be tough to work around using it?
But this isn't Europe.
PC makers are, according to the Wall Street Journal, urging the Chinese government to reconsider the policy. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Foreign Trade Council and the Semiconductor Industry Association and international groups as well, have sent a letter to Minister Li Yizhong.
In the meantime, those manufacturers are in a tough spot, since, Solid Oak Software, a U.S. application vendor, is alleging the makers of Green Dam used Solid Oak's code to create the controversial filtering software. Now, Dell and HP have received cease and desist letters to stop them from installing the software.