CPC Central Committee Propaganda Department Forbids Criticism of Green Dam Filtering Software

Jun 12, 2009

CPC Central Committee Propaganda Department Forbids Criticism of Green Dam Filtering Software

A CPC Central Committee Propaganda Department order addressed to the PRC news media forbidding criticism of the Green Dam filtering software is showing up on a number of PRC websites. In many cases the order is posted as an image file to prevent the filters from picking it up presumably.

Above the image at the URL above is a joke — 该用户发炎中出现的借发挥的攻击性言论已被绿坝滑稽胡航软件自动封堵删除! It translates as: “The passionate attacks of this user have already been deleted by the Green Dike Amusing Nonsense Software!”  (Green Dam Amusing Nonsense Filtering Software is a homonym for Green Dam Flowery Season Escort Filtering Software)

Why is a particular software product mentioned? It could have been done by requiring blocking according to guidelines (notices go out regularly that govern filters at various levels already, it should not be too hard to just use the same list at the bottom PC level) and specifications. But specifying a particular product might be a sign of urgency, this is supposed to be implemented by July 1 and annual reporting of implementation on new PC sales to start February 2010. But it could be the owner of the web filtering company had some connections and captured the ear of a senior leader.

From the CPC Propaganda Department to the PRC news media —-

On the Blocking and Deleting of Attacks on the “Green Dam” Filtering Software

According to the spirit of orders from the leading comrades on the Central Committee, all media are requested to act in line with the action of the Ministry of Industry and Informatization on the pre-installation of green filtering software on computers (that is the “Green Dam – Flower Season Web Escort Filtering Software”), and focus on supporting comments. Groups of experts can be organized to talk with parents and directly respond to doubts people may have. Clearly support this action to protect the growth of minors. Do not print doubts or criticism. Moreover, all media should strengthen their management of their own websites and immediately block and delete any attacks that appear among postings on web forums.

News Department, Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party

June 10, 2009

Full Chinese report: http://bbs.anjia.com/dispbbs_4_289192_1_2.html