IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 590 

Expressing grave concerns about the sweeping censorship, privacy, and cybersecurity implications of China’s Green Dam filtering software, and urging 

U.S. high-tech companies to promote the Internet as a tool for transparency, freedom of expression, and citizen empowerment around the 

world. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 26, 2009 

Mr. WU (for himself and Mr. WOLF) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing grave concerns about the sweeping censorship, 

privacy, and cybersecurity implications of China’s Green 

Dam filtering software, and urging U.S. high-tech companies to promote the Internet as a tool for transparency, freedom of expression, and citizen empowerment 

around the world. 

Whereas, on May 19, 2009, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China 

issued a broad directive requiring all personal computers 

sold in China to have preinstalled filtering software, 

called Green Dam Youth Escort, starting July 1, 2009; 

Whereas online surveillance researchers assert that Green 

Dam has the ability to block political and religious conVerDate Nov 24 2008 02:37 Jun 28, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR590.IH HR590

tjames on PRODPC75 with BILLS
2 

HRES 590 IH 

tent and allow the Chinese government to monitor Internet use and collect personal information; 

Whereas in a report published on June 12, 2009, the 

OpenNet Initiative, a joint project by the University of 

Toronto and Harvard, Cambridge, and Oxford universities, found that the software hampers a computer’s performance by shutting down Web browsers and applications without warning, in addition to creating serious security problems; 

Whereas, a June 15, 2009, report by the OpenNet Initiative 

states, ‘‘As a computing tool Green Dam is far more 

powerful than the centralized filtering system China currently implements. It actively monitors individual computer behavior to the extent that its ‘language processing’ 

tool can institute extremely intrusive ‘kill’ action on sites 

if the content algorithm detects ‘inappropriate’ sensitive 

political or religious speech’’; 

Whereas Green Dam has already been downloaded more than 

3.2 million times, including downloads by thousands of 

schools that were required to install the software by the 

end of May 2009; 

Whereas China is home to 298 million Internet users, the 

largest population of Internet users in the world; 

Whereas in testimony before the Tom Lantos Human Rights 

Commission on June 18, 2009, Daniel Calingaert, deputy 

director of programs at Freedom House, said, ‘‘The response to the introduction of Green Dam censorship software in China provides just the most recent example of 

citizens using the Internet to stand up to repressive regimes. Numerous experts in China tested the software, 

and word about its harmful effects spread rapidly online. 


tjames on PRODPC75 with BILLS
3 

HRES 590 IH 

Ordinary citizens voiced strong objections to the software 

and used social networking tools to organize online protests against the Green Dam’’; 

Whereas, on June 9, 2009, the Information Technology Industry Council, the Software & Information Industry Association, the Telecommunications Industry Association, 

and TechAmerica issued the following joint statement: 

‘‘[We] urge the Chinese government to reconsider implementing its new mandatory filtering software requirement 

and would welcome the opportunity for a meaningful dialogue. We believe there should be an open and healthy 

dialogue on how parental control software can be offered 

in the market in ways that ensure privacy, system reliability, freedom of expression, the free flow of information, security and user choice’’; and 

Whereas, on June 24, 2009, Secretary of Commerce Gary 

Locke and United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk 

sent joint letters to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and China’s Ministry of Commerce, raising objections to Green Dam and expressing 

concerns that the Chinese government’s directive may 

violate China’s commitments under the World Trade Organization: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses grave concerns about the sweep3 ing censorship, privacy, and cybersecurity implica4 tions of the Green Dam filtering software; 

5 (2) calls on the government of the People’s Re6 public of China to rescind its requirement for Green 

7 Dam to be preinstalled on all new computers; 


tjames on PRODPC75 with BILLS
4 

HRES 590 IH 

1 (3) expresses unyielding support for the people 

2 of China in their quest for Internet freedom and free 

3 expression; and 

4 (4) urges U.S. high-tech companies to promote 

5 the Internet as a tool for transparency, freedom of 

6 expression, and citizen empowerment around the 

7 world. 

Æ 


tjames on PRODPC75 with BILLS