New PC in China to have built in censorship firmware.

I first saw only the free portion of this Wall Street Journal story. Then I saw other versions from other publications. Details are sketchy but the news from China should

  1. Confirm the Chinese government has no desire to live up to what it said in the past about increasing access to the rest of the world
  2. Make anyone living and working in China concerned about what they view on the Internet and what they send out by e-mail
  3. Worry freedom of speech advocates around the world. (Just think about how much self-styled censors in the USA would love to force this bit of technology on our schools and libraries.

Wall Street Journal: China Squeezes PC Makers

CNet: Report: China to require censorship software

PCWorld: China Demands New PCs Have Web Site-blocking Program

Associated Press: China wants PCs to come with anti-porn software