It is up to the buyers to decide use it or not,” The Telegraph quoted Yizhong, as saying.

Yizhong, however, added that the voluntary option does not apply to computers in schools and public internet cafes where China would still require the installation of Green Dam.

“We will install it in computers located in schools and internet cafes. We entirely respect customer’s benefit and freedom. We will definitely not make installation compulsory for all computers on sale,” he said.

About three months ago, China announced that all computers sold in the country after July 1 would be required to pre-install the Green Dam software, as a measure to protect children and combat pornography on the web.

The requirement was suspended indefinitely in June, following overwhelming resistance from Chinese internet users who suspected that the software was actually a censorship tool.

The Chinese users were joined by Foreign computer manufacturers, 22 international chambers of commerce and the US Government had wrote official letters asking the Chinese government to reconsider its “Green Dam” order, which was said to be impractical and anti-competitive.

Yizhong further explained that there was a misunderstanding of his ministry?s initial announcement by internet users and computer manufacturers that resulted to the erroneous impression that installation was compulsory.

Source : Konaxis