According to an anonymous official in the government's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), it's "misleading" to say that China is requiring PC owners to use the software.

"PC makers are only required to save the setup files of the program in the hard drives of the computers, or provide CD-ROMS containing the program with their PC packages," the official said. "The government's role is limited to having the software developed and providing it free."

Flawed Software

The software package, known as Green Dam-Youth Escort, has been fiercely criticized by human-rights and free-speech groups around the world. Although ostensibly designed to block pornography, the software also is designed to limit access to Web sites containing material critical of the Chinese government.

Software researchers in the United States and elsewhere have asserted that the Green Dam software contains numerous security holes that could permit the installation of malware on PCs that install the program, or even permit a remote user to gain control of the computer.

On top of everything else, software manufacturer Solid Oak, publisher of the well-known Cybersitter software, is threatening copyright infringement litigation against the Chinese government, Jinhui Computer System Engineering (which produced Green Dam), and any PC manufacturer that installs the censorware. Solid Oak alleges that significant portions of its code was stolen by Jinhui. Others allege that chunks of open-source code were incorporated into Green Dam without credit.

Troubling Trend

The Green Dam controversy is seen by many as part of a troubling trend of censorship, with both eastern and western governments going to greater lengths to control online activity. Many argue that the companies that manufacture personal computers (such as Hewlett-Packard and Dell ) or operate major Web sites (such as Yahoo or Google) are not doing enough to resist the push for censorship.

In the wake of China's announcement that use of Green Dam would be optional, a coalition of 19 U.S. trade groups sent a letter to Chinese authorities expressing what can best be described as "mild concern."

The Green Dam initiative, the trade groups said, "raises significant questions of security, privacy, system reliability, the free flow of information , and user choice."

The lack of a strong response, both by the trade groups and the U.S. government, is a stark illustration of the enormous economic influence wielded by a country that is simultaneously one of the world's largest technology markets and the biggest U.S. creditor.

While many are applauding China's decision to make Green Dam optional, the battle over government censorship is likely to continue, particularly in the face of corporate indifference -- or worse, active assistance.