Beijing must rethink its filter-software policy

As of July, computers in China may only be sold with a pre-installed filter-software that blocks access to certain Internet sites. The International Herald Tribune takes a dim view of the plan: "The last thing China needs is to force the installation of software that could cause millions of computers to crash. That would feed new resentment against a government already accused of gross incompetence after thousands of children died in the collapse of shoddily constructed schools in the 2008 earthquake. International manufacturers probably could force the government to reverse the new rules by threatening not to sell their products. But they have no history of standing up to Beijing. If Beijing does not reconsider its foolhardy decision, the new rules would take effect on July 1. Our advice to Chinese consumers: Buy your PC now."

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