Plug not pulled on software

Despite a last-minute delay in implementing¹ Green Dam internet-filtering software, China's authorities and its PC manufacturers said yesterday they expect the tool will end up on new computers.

One day after the Ministry² of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) declared a postponement³ to the July 1 start date for the mandatory⁴ inclusion of "Green Dam-Youth Escort" porn filtering software, an MIIT official said it was only "a matter of time" before the directive took effect.

"The government will definitely carry on the directive on Green Dam. It's just a matter of time," he told China Daily on condition of anonymity⁵.

An earlier directive to all PC makers⁶ on May 19 said the pre-installation of the filtering software would be mandatory on July 1 for any new PC produced or sold in China.

The official said issues around potential copyright infringement⁷ were not behind the delay - it was simply because some computer manufacturers needed more time.

"What will happen is that some PC manufacturers will have it included in their PC packages sooner than the others," he said.

"But there is no definite deadline at the moment."

Domestic PC giants, including Lenovo Group, said yesterday they will "install the filter as they were told". But some manufacturers have included a disclaimer with new PCs, saying they would not be responsible for damage caused by Green Dam.

Foreign PC makers were not available for comment.

Robert Rains, assistant information officer at the US embassy in Beijing, said the US authorities were "looking forward to engaging in further dialogues with the related Chinese authorities on this matter".