China censorship deadline looms

 

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By Reuters

Posted on 29 Jun 2009 at 08:05

There is less than a week until PC makers will be forced to ship censorship software with all computers sold in China, and while some manufacturers are prepared to follow the rules others continue to lobby against them.

Last month China said all personal computers sold in the country must have the "Green Dam" internet filter installed from 1 July, a move it said was to protect Chinese youth from pornography, but critics say is a form of censorship.

The country later backtracked and said that software would only have to be shipped with each PC, and that its use was voluntary.

Sources at PC makers said while they were prepared to implement the ruling, they would probably wait until the last minute before sending the software to their distributors.

"The company will abide by the rule and senior management are on the issue, but they're still considering their position," a source at a top PC company said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the situation's sensitivity.

"They're lobbying for help from the US government, and are really hoping that the current talks will help," they added.

A second source said a recent flurry of statements from officials in the United States to their Chinese counterparts was a result of lobbying by PC companies on hopes that they could convince China to reverse or ease the new rule.

"We're standing next to the US government on this one. I don't know if we'll be able to meet the 1 July deadline, but we're still working to see what we can do," said another source.

Acer was the only PC company to admit that they would comply with the rules. Other major PC brands such as HP and Dell repeated previous statements that they would be seeking additional information on the matter.

"We'll of course see how we can best accommodate the rules," said Acer spokesman Henry Wang. "There are rules when operating in any country, and we'll have to comply with them if necessary."

Acknowledging the situation's sensitivity, spokespersons from Dell and HP declined to comment or say whether they planned to comply with the requirement, just days before the new regulations were due to take effect.

Analysts had previously said that western PC brands such as HP and Dell could end up being the biggest losers in the current spat, risking the wrath of consumers back home if they go along or losing ground in China if they refuse.

For all the international uproar about Green Dam, many retailers in China who will be selling computers packaged with it were either oblivious or dismissive.

"What's Green Dam?," said Wu Baobao, a woman in her 20s who was selling Dell laptops at the raucous Hailong electronics mall in the Zhongguancun district of northwest Beijing.

"When you buy a computer after 1 July it will come with the software," she added after asking a colleague in a neighbouring stall. "But don't worry... we can take it out easily."