Freeman Report June/July Issue - Vol. 7, No. 6/7

It was a rare “kumbaya” moment. All kinds of people - Chinese and foreign - celebrated after the Chinese government succumbed to international and domestic pressure and announced the “postponement” of its edict that all computers sold after July 1st would have to be sold with “Green Dam - Youth Escort” censorware pre-installed. Industry insiders now expect the Green Dam mandate will be quietly scrapped or never  enforced. It is important, however, to unpack exactly what happened, and why. A dramatic battle was indeed won, albeit it did not mark a reversal of the Chinese government’s broader Internet censorship efforts.