From Wall Street Journal:
China’s industry minister Li Yizhong said Thursday that China won’t force the mass installation of the Green Dam Internet filtering software on personal computers and other consumer products.
China will continue to install the software, called Green Dam-Youth Escort, on computers at schools, in Internet cafes, and other public places, Mr. Li added.
Mr. Li’s comments are China’s most clear climb-down to date on the issue, after its plan to require the software to be shipped with all computers sold in China were delayed indefinitely in June.
Mr. Li said the software was always intended to be optional and not a mandatory installation, and said the regulations were unclear when first released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in May.
See also “China Scales Back Software Filter Plan” from the New York Times and “Installation of Internet filtering software not compulsory: minister” from Xinhua, which ends its report by saying:
Installation of the software was postponed on June 30. Li said the ministry was still gauging public opinion before installation and would adjust its plans accordingly.
Work on upgrading the Green Dam software is also in progress.
The market would still be open to similar software programs, Li said.
See also “Green Dam: Class Background Matters” from justrecently.
