p2pnet news view Freedom | P2P:- Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang (right) says not to worry about the country’s new Green Dam censor program.

As of July 1, every PC sold in China will include Green Dam Youth Escort software to block “pornographic or violent material,” say China’s leaders.

“The aim is to build a healthy and harmonious online environment that does not poison young people’s minds, according to the directive,” the BBC has a Chinese statement saying, goin gon to quote Qin as declaring:

“The purpose of this is to effectively manage harmful material for the public and prevent it from being spread. The Chinese government pushes forward the healthy development of the internet. But it lawfully manages the internet.”

However, the BBC’s Chinese language website and video sharing website Youtube are currently inaccessible in Beijing, says the story, going on »»»

Critics fear this new software could be used by the government to enhance its internet censorship system, known as the Great Firewall of China.

But a spokesman for one of the companies that developed the software, Jinhui Computer System Engineering, rejected this accusation.

But, “It’s a sheer commercial activity, having nothing to do with the government,” Zhang Chenmin, the company’s general manager, promises in the story.

Jinhui works with both China’s security ministry, and its military.

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BBC – China defends screening software, June 9, 2009