Beijing will not force mass-installation of filtration software

China’s industry and information technology minister said the government will not require personal computers to be sold with "Green Dam-Youth Escort" internet-filtration software already installed, the Wall Street Journal reported. However, Li Yizhong said the software will continue to be installed on computers intended for schools, internet cafes and other public places. Li asserted that the filter is intended to prevent children from viewing pornographic material, though critics fear it could be used to block politically sensitive sites. Li’s comments are the most recent in a discussion that has been ongoing since June. At that time, the government announced that all computers sold in China after July 1 would come with the filtration software already installed. The edict was modified on June 30 to grant computer manufacturers more time to prepare.