InternetSafety.com Calls on China to Change Green Dam Filtering Program

Government-Mandated Software Raises Censorship, Security & Choice Concerns

ATLANTA, June 23 /PRNewswire/ — InternetSafety.com today criticized the Chinese government’s decision to mandate the installation of Green Dam filtering software on every PC starting July 1, citing censorship and security concerns as well as the unprecedented attempt to force nationwide adoption of a single software product to control children’s Internet use. In contrast, InternetSafety.com has participated in voluntary government-sponsored filtering programs in Australia and Nova Scotia that have equipped parents with optional tools to protect children from pornography and other inappropriate Internet content.

“We strongly advocate the use of family safety software and have parents using our product in 150 countries, but China’s program is clearly misguided. We are troubled at the mandatory nature of the initiative as well as by reports that the software can be used to intrude on citizens’ privacy,” said Forrest Collier, CEO of InternetSafety.com. “Any program of this kind should be open and voluntary, enabling users to choose their product from an approved list as well as whether to participate at all. It should also be used only for the purpose of shielding children from harm.”

China’s Internet filtering project has sparked a backlash both in Western countries and in China itself because of the features and functionality of the Green Dam software, produced by the Jinhui Computer System Engineering Co., with input from Beijing Dazheng Human Language Technology Academy Co.

Critics have attacked the Green Dam product as a cover for political censorship in part because of alleged blacklisting of keywords such as those referencing Tibet and the Falun Gong spiritual movement. In addition, reviewers have charged that the software is able to monitor individual computer behavior including Internet browsing and capable of terminating word processing and email programs if it detects usage patterns that the government considers unacceptable; criticized the product for limited functionality including failure to allow customization of filter settings to suit personal family preferences; and assailed the program for requiring filtering rather than allowing consumer choice.

Green Dam has also been denounced by independent testers as a major security risk. One report, Analysis of the Green Dam Censorware System, claims that the software opens up computers to being taken over by malicious web sites, and through its updates could allow any computer running the software to be taken over remotely. The report recommends that users uninstall the software immediately to avoid security risks.

To alleviate these various concerns, InternetSafety.com recommends that the Chinese government expand its program to include a list of approved family safety solutions from which parents can choose and to allow the filtering to be voluntary. Under this plan, PC manufacturers would be free to choose from a government-approved list of commercially viable solutions to install on new PCs or include as optional software downloads.

InternetSafety.com has been an active force in public partnerships to improve online safety, supplying customized filtering products through OEM relationships and other technology partnerships.

In Australia, for example, the company was chosen as a vendor in the NetAlert program that offered free and optional filtering software to every resident of the country. The software was part of a broader online safety initiative that also included education and law enforcement measures.

In Nova Scotia, the company was selected by the provincial gaming commission to create a custom filtering solution to help prevent underage online gambling. The solution, called BetStopper, is currently available free to any citizen of Nova Scotia.

For information about InternetSafety.com OEM or technology partnerships, contact oem@internetsafety.com.

About InternetSafety.com

InternetSafety.com has been a leading provider of web filtering solutions for consumers and businesses since 1999. The company’s flagship software, Safe Eyes, is the two-time recipient of the PC Magazine Editors’ Choice Award, earned a separate Editor’s Choice Award from LAPTOP Magazine, and was rated as the #1 parental control solution by America’s leading consumer advocacy publication. Other products include Safe Eyes Mobile, the first family-safe browser for the iPhone, and EtherShield, a hardware appliance offering plug-and-play Internet filtering for business environments. The company’s products are used by customers in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit www.internetsafety.com.

SOURCE InternetSafety.com