BEIJING, June 10 (UPI) -- Computers made or sold in China must now have software to filter out pornography, but critics say it is designed to screen out politically sensitive items.
The order, set to go into effect July 1, means computers must come with pre-installed filter software packages to protect minors from pornographic contents and other "unhealthy" information on the Internet, Xinhua reported, quoting the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Imported computers also must have the filters before being sold in China. The ministry said it was "responding to the calls from many school faculties and parents," Xinhua said, adding the software could be switched off and uninstalled by parents.
The BBC reported critics complain the new filters can also be used to prevent Chinese Internet users from looking for politically sensitive information. However, the report said, a Foreign Ministry spokesman claimed China supports healthy development of the Internet.
The British network said the Chinese government regularly restricts access to certain Internet sites and information it deems sensitive. Its censorship system is referred to as the "Great Firewall of China," an allusion to the country's ancient defensive barrier against foreign invaders, the Great Wall of China.
