Journal 15, July 1

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124636491863372821.html

A day before implementation, the Chinese government postponed the implementation and mandate of Web-filtering software to be installed on all computers in China. The delay was said to be mainly caused by PC makers concerned about not having enough time to implement the filter effectively by deadline.
There has been much controversy over the web-filtering mandate proposed by the Chinese government. Many feel that it is intrusive, and allows the Chinese government to further encroach on censorship of its citizens.
While PC makers complained that they didn’t have enough time to meet the deadline of implementation, governments abroad including the European Union and the U.S. have voiced concern about the filtering mandate. Additionally, many citizens within and outside the boarders of China have been against the filtering system feeling it allows the government to have more control over personal life. However, the government says the filter will only block “unhealthy” content from youth and does not keep track of users’ behavior online.
Calling the filter, the Green Dam Youth-Escort, the main purpose of the filter is to implement in schools and web cafes in order to protect the youth from unscrupulous content. However, some who have already used computers containing the filter say that it also blocks users from travelling to sites with controversial political content.
Although big PC makers, including No. 1 PC exporter Hewlett Packard is willing to comply, agreement to including the filter in their products does not come without hesitation. However, China is No. 2 in the world for consumption of computers behind the U. S. and PC makers know that they must include the filter in order to continue to capitalize off of the growing Chinese market. Companies such as Sony have already began making products with the Green filter while other companies such as Dell and Acer are asking for more time to test the filter before they rush it to market.
All in all, it seems like another way for the Chinese government to control content disseminated by their population. Moreover, it is awesome that the PC makers really have no power to protest this border-line immoral act of control because China is such a huge part of company revenue.

Sources:
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090608_chinas_green_dam_youth_escort_software/