Unhealthy Information! Filtered!

The new government requirement that Green Dam-Youth Escort web filtering software be installed on all new PCs sold in China starting July 1 made newspapers today on the mainland after, and has continued to generate controversy online. See ESWN for a roundup of user complaints about the software itself.

Here are a few thoughts on the software initiative from "Long Journey into Death," the blog of author Fei Dao:

Qin Gang said, "Do you know what sort of software this is? I think you do. This software is called 'Green Dam-Youth Escort,' and is software that screens and filters pornographic, obscene, and violent information on the Internet. I'd like to ask you another question. Do you have kids? If you have a child, or if you'll have children in the future, I think you'll understand the worries and concerns that all parents have toward the spread of harmful information on the Internet."

According to information recently made public by MIIT, starting on July 1, all computers produced for sale within China's borders must have the green Internet filtering software known as Green Dam-Youth Escort installed before leaving the factory. Imprted computers sold in the country must also install the software. Foreign media outlets distorted the measure, intended to protect the general public, twisting it into "the government's attempt to control Internet users."

Free associations:

1. The term "the people's son," used in the previous century, is not found much today, but we're actually all children. Above us are our parents, and parents have to protect their children's youth.

2. Foreign countries have children too, but because they don't install Escort software, foreigners are free to come into contact with pornographic, obscene, and violent information from a young age, so they are all so fearsome. This is a foreign characteristic, and we must be vigilant, particularly for our classmates who spend time overseas.

3. Foreigners harbor malicious motives. Our parents have never controlled us, they've only provided guidance.

4. July 1 is our parents' birthday. Selecting that date is not accidental. Bad children who want to be degenerate should hurry to buy computers now. This will drive domestic consumption. This, therefore, may be a kind of sales push....