“Green Dam-Youth Escort”

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk has asked Chinese officials to revoke a requirement for web-filtering software on all new PCs, saying it may violate World Trade Organization rules. Kirk cited the requirement that computer makers install “Green Dam-Youth Escort” software to filter out pornography as a possible violation of WTO rules in a letter he wrote. The U.S. is pursuing a complaint raised by representatives of technology companies including Google and Oracle, who have said those censorship regulations amount to an unfair barrier to trade. A group of 19 business associations in North America and Japan, including groups representing Microsoft, Dell and Cisco Systems have sent a letter to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology seeking a review of the agency’s order to adopt the software.