China postpones plan requiring all computers to have internet filtering software pre-insalled
After much criticism from the international community, China has postponed a controversial plan requiring computer manufacturers to install internet filtering software on machines being sold in the country.
China has indefinitely postponed a controversial plan requiring all computers sold in the country to have specially designed internet filtering software installed.
The abrupt U-turn, announced late on Tuesday by the official Xinhua news agency, came just hours before the policy was due to come into effect on July 1.
The industry and information technology ministry would "delay the mandatory installation of the controversial Green Dam-Youth Escort filtering software on new computers", Xinhua said.
China said the Green Dam software was designed to block internet pornography and protect children, but the policy drew flak from industry and human rights groups as well as foreign governments.
They said it distorted fair market competition and could be used to tighten Beijing's grip on political dissent.
