The United States denied yesterday making any official complaints over a new Chinese directive that requires an Internet filter to be included with all personal computers sold on the mainland, but the US embassy in Beijing said concerns were expressed to authorities in Beijing, the Global Times has learned.

Meanwhile, China's Foreign Ministry said the government is simply being responsible for filtering inappropriate information.

"There hasn't been an official complaint filed with the Chinese," said Robert Raines, assistant information officer at the embassy, adding that its representatives met Friday with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) to discuss the new filter law that takes effect July 1.

"The US government views with concern any attempt to restrict the free flow of information," Raines told the Global Times via e-mail. "Such steps are incompatible with China's aspirations to build a modern, information-based economy and society.

"We have been in touch with industry groups and continue to meet with them on this concern."

Raines also noted that there are other software programs available to adults that can provide them with a means of shielding minors from illicit or inappropriate Internet content, which is the main concern presented by Chinese officials in defending the filter, named Green Dam-Youth Escort.
The US concerns involve the filter's potential impact on trade and the technical issues raised by using the software, Raines said.

According to an article yesterday in the London-based Financial Times, Friday's meeting requested by the US was a "diplomatic move," and such "a sharp expression of displeasure often precedes a more involved international dispute."

Raines declined to provide further details of the meeting.
Last month, computer makers were told by the MIIT that all personal computers sold on the mainland would have to be shipped with anti-pornography software.

Overseas and domestic Internet users have viewed the new software rule as an attempt by China to filter unwanted websites.

An unnamed press officer with the MIIT, which is in charge of regulating the Internet, said yesterday that officials familiar with the filter program weren't available for comment.
Also yesterday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated its stance to the Global Times that the government is obliged to protect the nation's youths against unhealthy information, and enterprises should do their part to achieve the same goal, according to an anonymous official with the ministry's information department.

Meanwhile, the software continues to be questioned domestically, with concerns mounting among citizens about whether the software will violate the privacy and the rights of computer users.

"The program itself is to help clean up the Internet environment; in that sense, the MIIT is reasonable to make such a decision," said Wang Yingchun, an organizer of Beijing's Chinese Netizen Festival, which will take place in September. "But the decision is a little bit hasty, because such software should be widely tested before being put into use."
The upcoming festival is designed to promote the sound and healthy development of China's Internet environment, organizers said.

Fang Binxing, president of the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and a leading expert on information security technology, told the Global Times yesterday that no matter how far apart countries are in terms of political stances, governments around the world have taken a wide range of measures to protect the online security of children and teenagers.
More than 100 similar types of filtering software are used in the US, particularly in combating the spread of child pornography. And many European countries also block access to websites with Nazi or far-right content, Fang said.

"One reason for the buzz aroused by Green Dam is because the US is highly sensitive regarding the free flow of information," Fang said, "and they are worried about an expansion of the range by this filter."

Kang Juan and Guo Qiang contributed to this story

Source:Global Times