DevPlug.net

Facing a barrage of international criticism, the Chinese government is apparently backing down from its earlier announcement that all PCs sold in the country must have censoring software installed.

According to an anonymous official in the government’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), it’s “misleading” to say that China is requiring PC owners to use the software.

“PC makers are only required to save the setup files of the program in the hard drives of the computers, or provide CD-ROMS containing the program with their PC packages,” the official said. “The government’s role is limited to having the software developed and providing it free.”

Flawed Software

The software package, known as Green Dam-Youth Escort, has been fiercely criticized by human-rights and free-speech groups around the world. Although ostensibly designed to block pornography, the software also is designed to limit access to Web sites containing material critical of the Chinese government.

Software researchers in the United States and elsewhere have asserted that the Green Dam software contains numerous security holes that could permit the installation of malware on PCs that install the program, or even permit a remote user to gain control of the computer.

On top of everything else, software manufacturer Solid Oak, publisher of the well-known Cybersitter software, is threatening copyright infringement litigation against the Chinese government, Jinhui Computer System Engineering (which produced Green Dam), and any PC manufacturer that installs the censorware. Solid Oak alleges that significant portions of its code was stolen by Jinhui. Others allege that chunks of open-source code were incorporated into Green Dam without credit.

Troubling Trend

The Green Dam controversy is seen by many as part of a troubling trend of censorship, with both eastern and western governments going to greater lengths to control online activity. Many argue that the companies that manufacture personal computers (such as Hewlett-Packard and Dell)…

More: continued here

Related News

China Testing Mac Version of Green Dam Web Filter

Despite the delay in China's requirement to install Green Dam Web-filtering software on all new PCs, the controversy is not dead. PC makers are including the software with new PCs even though the July 1 deadline has been postponed indefinitely.On Thursday, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology told China Daily that the mandate has not been canceled, only delayed. News media reported that China definitely plans to require Green Dam.In addition, Green Dam publisher Jinhui Computer System Engineering is reportedly testing a version for Apple's Mac computers, which so far have been exempt.China says the Green Dam-Youth Escort software is meant to protect young people from pornography and violence on the Web. However, opponents say it would be used for political repression. A survey found that many Chinese would not pay for the software after a one-year free trial period.China originally directed all PC makers to pre-install Green Dam on all PCs sold in China, with a July 1 deadline. However, the ministry delayed the deadline on June 30. Earlier, it had modified its mandate to say that the Green Dam CDs could be included with new PCs rather than pre-installed.Multiple tests found the software vulnerable to malware, and Sony has included a disclaimer about the software with its PCs. Tests also showed Green Dam blocked images of cartoon cat Garfield and roast pork, and returned links to both soft- and hard-core pornography.

Enterprises Likely To Turn Off IE8 ‘Porn Mode’ (NewsFactor)

NewsFactor - Anyone perusing porn sites at home will appreciate Microsoft's latest efforts at browser privacy, but it's not clear it will do much for the enterprise. Internet Explorer product manager Andrew Ziegler discussed the new privacy features of IE8, currently in its second beta, in an extensive blog post Monday. Users of the new software will be able to turn on Microsoft's InPrivate Browsing and Blocking features.

Tiemann: Open Source Incentives

Michael Tiemann reports on his recent trip to Brazil for FISL 10. He notes that free software adoption is growing rapidly within the Brazilian government. He also describes an effort by the Malaysian government to reward use of free software, rather than the development of it, because that rewarding development can lead to multiple, competing solutions that don't necessarily solve the users' problems. In addition, he also noted a barrier to free software adoption: "On the alarm front, I heard specific confirmation of a storyline I've been following, which is that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is basically telling governments: if you want contributions/investments from us, then you'll give Microsoft cabinet-level access to inform policy, and you'll use Microsoft products. For example, donations to educational initiatives require installing and teaching Microsoft products."

PC Makers Voluntarily Supply Web Filter in China

Several PC makers were including controversial Internet-filtering software with computers shipped in China on Thursday despite a government decision to postpone its plan to make such a step mandatory.Beijing's decision this week to delay the requirement that the filtering software -- known as Green Dam -- be pre-installed or supplied on disk with all computers sold in China averted a possible trade clash with the United States and Europe. But the move by some makers to include the software anyway could re-ignite complaints by Chinese Web users.Also Thursday, a government newspaper said regulators will revive the plan to make Green Dam mandatory at some point, a move that would disappoint opponents who hoped the government would drop the effort.Taiwan's Acer Inc. -- the world's No. 3 PC maker -- Sony Corp. and China's Haier Group said they were shipping Green Dam on disks with computers for sale in China. China's Lenovo Group, the No. 4 producer, said it would offer the software pre-installed or on disk. Taiwan's Asus Inc. said it was preparing to supply Green Dam disks with PCs. Taiwanese laptop maker BenQ Inc. said the system was on the hard drives of its computers.Acer was supplying Green Dam because disks were already packed with PCs before the government postponed the plan, that had been due to take effect Wednesday, said a company spokeswoman, Meng Lei. Lenovo said it also was going ahead with plans made before the Green Dam order was postponed.Hewlett-Packard Co., the world's top PC manufacturer, said it was working with the U.S. government to get more information and declined to comment further. No. 2 Dell Inc. said it was not including Green Dam with its PCs.Chinese authorities said the software is needed to shield children from violent and obscene material online. But experts who examined...

Google

While the entire tech world seemed focused on Apple during the iPad rollout, Google just kept serving in silence, keeping the innovation engines running without distraction.I sure enjoyed the iPad rollout.  Although I was a little underwhelmed, I enjoyed watching the presentation and reading about it and enjoyed some good editorials by friends on Facebook. [...]Related posts:Google Apps: The Missing ManualGoogle App Engine: CTOs should check it outGoogle Surprise: A change in intent regarding Chinaread more