The US trade representative, Ron Kirk, has written a letter to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce asking it to drop a requirement that all PCs sold in the country now have special filtering software installed.
The letter was sent on Tuesday by the trade representative and commerce secretary, Gary Locke, to the Chinese ministry. It expressed concern that the Green Dam Youth Escort software required to be installed on all PCs by July 1 violates World Trade Organization rules.
The software is intended to keep children from accessing pornography online, according to the Chinese government, but the US, along with some technology companies, perceive the requirement as further attempts at censorship, as well as a trade barrier.
"China is putting companies in an untenable position by requiring them, with virtually no public notice, to preinstall software that appears to have broad-based censorship implications and network security issues," Locke said in a statement.
In the same statement, Kirk commented, "Protecting children from inappropriate content is a legitimate objective, but this is an inappropriate means and is likely to have a broader scope. Mandating technically-flawed Green Dam software and denying manufacturers and consumers freedom to select filtering software is an unnecessary and unjustified means to achieve that objective, and poses a serious barrier to trade."
US-based trade associations representing the PC industry have voiced their objections to the Green Dam policy. Dell, which has been ramping up its business in China over the past year, has said it has yet to make a decision whether it will comply.
"Along with the rest of the industry, and relevant trade associations, we are reviewing the policy initiative and are working with government officials and others to understand its application," said company spokesperson Jess Blackburn.
HP, the world's largest PC manufacturer, is also taking a wait-and-see approach. "HP is working closely with the trade industry association ITI to seek additional information, clarify open questions and monitor developments on this matter," said a company representative.
Lenovo, the fourth-largest PC maker, based in China, also said it is figuring out a plan, but hinted it might be prepared to comply with the Chinese policy.
"We are closely monitoring developments," a company representative said in an email. "Lenovo sells in over 160 countries and in so doing, we obey the law and abide by local regulations wherever we do business, and we will continue to do so."
