US urges China to revoke Internet filter requirement

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk urged China Wednesday to abandon its proposal to require Internet filters installed on personal computers starting next month, warning the step could violate world trade rules. "China is putting companies in an untenable position by requiring them, with virtually no public notice, to pre-install software that appears to have broad-based censorship implications and network security issues," said Sec Locke. Locke and Kirk voiced their concerns in a joint letter to their Chinese counterparts after China Daily reported Tuesday that Beijing "will not back away" from the July 1 requirement for the filter to be installed on computers produced and sold in China.