The Chinese government is infamous for controlling the information Chinese citizens have access to. The country uses several methods (including firewalls and proxy servers) to restrict access to various Web sites that criticize Communism or promote the causes of groups like the Falun Gong. Officially, these methods are part of the Golden Shield Project. But we know it better as “the Great Firewall of China.” And while restrictions are tight, a person with the right software and technical know-how can get around many of the obstacles.

Earlier this month, word spread that the Chinese government would require PC manufacturers to install the Green Dam-Youth Escort software before selling the machines to the public. The censorship software will block access to certain Web sites. The Chinese government claims that the purpose of the software is to censor pornography. But some people worry that it will do much more than that, making it even more difficult for Chinese citizens to access information from sources other than Chinese Web sites.