China to pre-load PCs with software to block sites

SINGAPORE, SOUTHEAST ASIA: China's government wants all PCs sold in the country from July 1 to be loaded with software that blocks certain websites, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

The paper cited the software's main developer as saying the primary target was pornography, and added that the government said it was to protect young people from "harmful" content.

The software, called "Green Dam-Youth Escort," would block access to banned websites by connecting to a database, the Journal reported.

Jinhui Computer System Engineering Co developed the software with the help of Beijing Dazheng Human Language Technology Academy Co, it said.

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology put the requirement in a notice on May 19 but it has not yet been publicized, the paper said.