Commerce logo for web pages and Wisconsin Department of Commerce Home Page Link.
Map highlighting Wisconsin
Change text size A A A A A A A
Connect with us Visit our profile on LinkedIn. Leaving commerce.wi.gov and going to http://www.linkedin.com/companies/wisconsin-department-of-commerce Follow us on Twitter. Leaving commerce.wi.gov and going to http://twitter.com/WICommerce
 
Export Assistance
Related Resources

Reporter Contacts
(608) 267-4417

Central Building Location:
201 W. Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53703
View map / get directions

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 7970
Madison, WI 53707-7970

Office of Governor
Scott Walker
Link to Governor Walkers's web site
 
Bookmark and Share
IMPORTANT: As of July 1st, 2011, functions once performed by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce have been moved to other state agencies and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The former Commerce web site will continue to exist for the next several months as resources are moved to new web site locations. We will make every attempt possible to direct our users to the new locations as web resources are moved.

Bureau of Export Development
PO Box 7970
Madison, WI 53707-7970
USA 		Wisconsin Worldwide Newsletter Logo Subscribe
Send to a Colleague
Feedback
View All Issues
Vol. 8 #6, July 2009

China Delays New Software Requirement
Photo of Laptop with Chinese FlagChina will delay the mandatory installation of the controversial "Green Dam-Youth Escort" filtering software on new computers sold within China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced on June 30.  The government said the software was needed to block violent and pornographic content in order to protect minors as well as help parents control how much time their children spend online.  The requirement to include the software was originally scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2009.

Critics of the software contend that its list of banned words goes beyond violence and pornography to include political topics as well.  Businesses have also complained that design flaws made computers vulnerable to hacker attacks by vandals and cyber criminals, as well as surreptitious snooping.

In late June, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk sent a joint letter to their counterparts in China urging the Chinese government to revoke the proposed rule, pointing out fundamental questions regarding regulatory transparency and compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, such as notification obligations.  Secretary Locke and Ambassador Kirk also listed numerous concerns raised by global technology companies, Chinese citizens, and the worldwide media about the stability of the software, the scope and extent of the filtering activities, and its security weaknesses.

The New York Times reported that on June 26, the leaders of 22 international business organizations delivered a letter to Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao arguing that Green Dam flouted China’s professed goal of building an information-based society, and that it threatened security, privacy and free speech.

No new date has been set for enforcement, revision, or permanent elimination of the requirement.