On May 19, the China government announced a new rule insisting PC makers to install a web filtering software to each PC to block pornography and the yet-to-be clearly defined ‘other inappropriate material’. This new rule of the installation of the software - Green Dam, which would come to force from July 1, faces criticism from the citizens of China too.

What does the US say?

The Chinese order has been subjected to criticism by free-speech advocates and US companies alike. One of the firms claims that the Green Dam is a copy of their indigenous filtering software meant for parents to control the internet access of their children.

The US government has pressurized the China government further by sending an official letter to China, stating that the Green Dam proposal violates international laws. The trade representative Ron Kirk gave a strong message by stating that this order might pose a serious barrier to trade.