China postpones controversial web filtering software installation

BEIJING - Amid widespread international criticism, China Tuesday announced that it would delay the mandatory installation of the controversial “Green Dam-Youth Escort” filtering software on new computers.

The installation was postponed as some computer producers said the process demanded extra time, the ministry of industry and information technology (MIIT) said.

“The ministry would keep on soliciting opinions to perfect the pre-installation plan,” a spokesman with MIIT said.

All computers produced or sold in China were scheduled to be installed with such software after July 1, according to MIIT’s previous announcement.

The ministry would continue to provide a free download of the software and equip school and Internet cafe computers with it after July 1, said the spokesman.

The software is designed to block violence and pornographic contents on the Internet to protect minors. It could also help parents control how much time their children spend online.

The pre-installation would not be compulsory, as the software could be easily switched off and uninstalled by computer users after which the online activities of users would not be recorded, the spokesman explained.

Accusations of the software’s privacy invasion and blocking information flow, which had been raised by a few overseas media and institutions, are “groundless” and “irresponsible”, the official said.

Developers of the “Green Dam”, greatly concerned over software security, had also modified the software as technical problems had been revealed during earlier promotion. They will continue to improve the software with services packs and upgrades, he said.

The spokesman also mentioned that the government procurement procedure of the software had complied with China’s Government Procurement Law, which was open, fair, transparent, non-exclusive, and under strict supervision.

The ministry did not mention when the pre-installation requirement would be implemented.

The software installation plan had drawn severe criticism by several media organisations, including top US trade officials, who viewed the plan as a possible trade barrier.

American diplomats had also met with Chinese officials to express concern over the plan.