The Chinese government is requiring all PC makers selling PCs into China to include a government-created software that will allow the powers-that-be to control the content that is served up on a computer. This is extremely detrimental for Chinese freedom of information.

In the coming weeks, we’ll hopefully know more about this software and what its effects may be on the content allowed to pass through to the Chinese population. Right now, here is what we know…

According to the Wall Street Journal:

The software was developed by Jinhui Computer System Engineering Co., with input from Beijing Dazheng Human Language Technology Academy Co.

Bryan Zhang, founder of Jinhui, said Green Dam operates similarly to software designed outside China to let parents block access to Web content inappropriate for children. Some computers sold in China already come with parental-control software, but it isn’t government-mandated.

Mr. Zhang said his company compiles and maintains the list of blocked sites, which he says is limited to pornography sites. He said the software would allow the blocking of other types of content, as well as the collection of private user data, but that Jinhui would have no reason to do so. He also said the software can be turned off or uninstalled.

His company plans to transmit new banned addresses to users’ PCs through an Internet update system similar to that used by operating-system software and antivirus programs.

The software requirement was outlined in a notice that was issued by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on May 19 but that hasn’t yet been publicized by state media. The notice, a copy of which was seen by The Wall Street Journal, says PC makers must ship PCs to be sold in China as of July 1 with the Green Dam software “preloaded”—pre-installed or enclosed on a CD.

The notice says PC producers will be required to report to the government how many PCs they have shipped with the software. The notice doesn’t mention any punitive action for noncompliance.

If you can read Chinese- the official press release is here.

China Imposing Censorship Software On PC Makers – AppScout.