The Chinese government has demanded that all computers in the country must have Green Dam Youth Escort internet filtering application installed. It is expected to filter out offensive material from internet. The issue has become controversial over time; a Chinese lawyer has asked for a public hearing to reconsider the government mandate.
The Chinese government claimed that the internet filtering application is intended to control harmful material from being spread online.
Li Fangping, a Beijing human rights advocate, asked the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to allow hearings on the lawfulness and reasonableness of the demand which is taking effect from July 1, reported Reuters.
A social entrepreneur in China, Isaac Mao told BBC News that this could allow hackers to steal people’s private information or place malicious script on internet network. A hacker could use malicious code to take over the PCs using Green Dam. And if that happens state-wide all computers would crash or at least get affected.
Chinese state media have pushed the installation plan as a way to pump out the flow of pornography. But in the wake of controversy, state television news said that the software does not store any personal information and can be removed or erased anytime, if users choose so.
