China Defends Internet-Filtering Software

BEIJING (AP) - China is defending its new rule that personal computers sold in the country carry software that filters online
content. A Foreign Ministry spokesman says the new rule is in accord with Chinese law and that the Web-filtering software will
help to block and filter what the spokesman calls "unhealthy content."

The official specified that such "content" includes pornography and violence. However, it's believed that the move is
aimed at tightening it's already tight grip on what Chinese citizens are able to access on the Internet. A posting on the Web
site of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has put out a call to all PC makers that they will be required to pre-load
the "Green Dam-Youth Escort" filtering software on machines sold in China as of July 1. And, in case you're wondering: the ban does
apply to imported PCs.