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[Golgath]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8091044.stm

China has defended the use of new screening software that has to be installed on all computers.

Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said the software would filter out pornographic or violent material.

Critics have complained that it could also be used to stop Chinese internet users searching for politically sensitive information.

The news came in a directive from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the new regulations will come into force on 1 July.

The directive says the newest version of the software has to be pre-installed on Chinese-made computers before they leave the factory.

Imported computers must contain the software before they are sold.

The aim is to build a healthy and harmonious online environment that does not poison young people's minds, according to the directive.

Ah, China.  Will you ever get tired of censoring the internet?

In a more serious sense, is anyone surprised here?  Any guesses to how long it will be before someone finds out a way to break it?  I'm rather curious as to how their population will take it...  On one hand, this seems to be a horribly blatant attempt to take control of their lives even more, but then again China hasn't had the best history with this sort of thing, so I don't know if any sort of outcry will be heard, or even if it would be raised.  I would think that a goodly amount of people would take offense at this, but I'm unsure how that would go in China's current atmosphere. 

[inaluct]

What would happen if someone just wiped a computer clean and put a new operating system on? Would the Chinaware be compatible?

[Golgath]

What would happen if someone just wiped a computer clean and put a new operating system on? Would the Chinaware be compatible?

It would be pretty short-sighted of them to confine it to a single operating system.  Would be funny if all it took was a reformat and they couldn't spy on you so easily any more, though I suspect they won't let it fail that easily.

[inaluct]

What if you just grab some super esoteric Linux distribution?

They can't make it compatible with them all.

[Creamcorn]

What if you just grab some super esoteric Linux distribution?

They can't make it compatible with them all.

Than China will probably only allow one OS to be installed on any computer at any given time.

[inaluct]

Uninstall Windows.

[Aqizzar]

I'm pretty sure they want to control access even at the router and server level.  The government does run the wire system itself, so unless you've got your own satellite hook-up, you'll have to go through Chinese government computers somewhere along the line.  If nothing else, Chinese ISPs will probably require a signal from the software in your computer before it'll let you get online at all.

I'm not saying enterprising Chinese hackers won't get around it (they've probably already reverse engineered stolen copies of the programs), but it won't be as simple as just removing the software.

[Heron TSG]

I have a feeling that the Chinese are going to flood the other countries' internet lines.

Holy crap! did the entire internet just slow down?

什么？!

[LegoLord]

I think this kind of thing should be applied to the internet, but in the control of parties from two or more rival countries, like some communist nations and some republican or democratic nations.  Nothing like rivalry to ensure power isn't abused.

[Armok]

This kind of thing makes me sick and scared, I hope someone will fix up that place sometime soon.

[sneakey pete]

I like this "oh but surely they hadn't thought of this"

There's 1.1 fucking billion people living in china. They're not stupid, they're bound to have all bases covered.

The more important question you should be asking yourself is: how long until my country try's something like this?

[IndonesiaWarMinister]

The more important question you should be asking yourself is: how long until my country tries something like this?

Hmm... My country is run by old, not-Internet(R)-compatibles.
I don't think they'll do stuffs like this, at least for these 10 years.

[Gantolandon]

I think this kind of thing should be applied to the internet, but in the control of parties from two or more rival countries, like some communist nations and some republican or democratic nations.  Nothing like rivalry to ensure power isn't abused.

Wait, what? Why?

[Muz]

The Chinese are one of the most productive people in the world. I wouldn't be surprised they could get away with that. This is sorta old news

I'm not really against China's policies, though. Sure, it's against freedom of speech, but despite having billions of people living there, it's a moderately satisfied country. I wish I could say the same about America.. a capitalist, free nation with more % of its people in prison than any nation, and where homeless people who eat scraps and college dropouts are common. Try and find a homeless, hungry Chinese man.. it's pretty rare, they take good care of their own.

I see it sort of like the ultra-strict father who doesn't let his kids go out and play with their friends. Permanent grounding. Whereas on the opposite scale, there's the other father who lets his kids do whatever they want and opposes the other guy's policies. But let's face it, the strict father has much better kids.

[Tormy]

Ah, China.  Will you ever get tired of censoring the internet?

Wake up! That country is ruled by the a communist party under a single-party system.