First published: 14th August 2009
Li Yizhong, minister of industry and information technology, said that the choice of words in the directive about "Green Dam" was unclear, leading to the misunderstanding that the filtering software had to be installed on all new computers. However schools and internet cafes would still be required to install Green Dam on all computers.
He added that the central government welcomed criticism on Green Dam-Youth Escort software and that Green Dam's developers were improving the software's performance and closing its security loopholes.
The admission has attracted headlines around the world, some saying that the Chinese Government has "backed down" or "dropped" the idea. Some commentators are already anticipating the next version of Green Dam.
Updated: 17th August 2009
In a recent blog post, security guru Bruce Schneier discussed Green Dam, similar "security" initiatives around the world, in countries often regarded as less restrictive, and why such developments are worrisome for anyone who is concerned about freedom and security.
Updated: 21st August 2009
In a further twist to the Green Dam saga, a survey initiated by the China Youth Internet Association claims that over 80 percent of primary school students, aged 6 to 12, don't care about the Green Dam software. However, the South China Morning Post reports that official mainland media claims only 5% of the children were against the software, suggesting that this was giving an unjustified impression of support when only 14% were in favour. The English-language Beijing newspaper China Times reported the story with the headline, "Primary school children shrug off Green Dam escort".
The survey was conducted in recreational centres, residential compounds and parks and questioned over 1,000 children and their parents. The children were questioned separately from their parents, specially-trained interviewers explained what Green Dam is, the reason for it and what pornography is. Almost half of the parents said they would not install Green Dam on their household computers, either because they believed it was ineffective or was disagreeable.
Some critics of the Green Dam software have created a cartoon character, Green Dam Girl, to mock the filtering plan.
