China is not known as a country that bends to pressure but in a rare reversal the Chinese Government has decided to back down on their new rule that would require all computers sold in China to have Internet filtering software pre-installed to block certain content and websites in a bid to protect minors.
China has certainly been under immense pressure, not just by those at home but internationally too. The US claimed it would hinder trade and Internet users protested by starting numerous online petitions. Another concern echoed by industry professionals was that the new software would actually cause security problems.
The rule was due to have taken effect today, 1st July, but a last minute decision has seen that postponed.
Ok so they haven’t backed down completely, the “Green Dam” software is still on the agenda but is delayed for the time being. They haven’t said their actions are a result of pressure either, but then they wouldn’t would they, they say it’s because computer manufacturers were finding it difficult to meet the deadline.
A lawyer from Beijing, Li Fangping, had demanded a public hearing on China’s plans and hailed this latest move by China as a “victory for China’s civil society”.
“Many citizens worked together and voiced their opposition to the forced installation of this filtering software and forced the government to at least think more deeply about it,” Li said.
“We hope now that they will go ahead and completely drop this order.”
Once the news was out it spread like wildfire across the Internet via blogs and social networking sites and in China itself, some protestors were preparing to party in order to celebrate what they saw as a victory against the government.
“This is a very rare example for the government to suddenly push back an important decision the night before it is due to be rolled out,” said outspoken artist Ai Weiwei, one of the party organisers.
“We are very happy because we got what we wanted,” said Liu Yaohua, another artist preparing to celebrate.
It’s not over yet though, so professing victory may be a bit premature.
“It has not been cancelled, just put back, so it’s possible that after a certain amount of time it will be pushed back out,” said Liu Xiaoyuan, an outspoken critic of the government’s plans who would like to know why the software was required in all new computers when it was apparently only to protect young people.
China has not yet given a new timescale for implementation of the software.
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There’ll be less freedom。
Hope that it will be canceled.