China stops funding Green Dam web filter: report

HONG KONG: Developers of China's Green Dam Internet filter have not received government funding in the past year, a local newspaper reported on Wednesday, placing in doubt the future of the much-criticized software.

China delayed indefinitely the plan to force PC manufacturers to bundle the Green Dam software with computers sold in the country in June last year, after critics denounced the plan as ineffective.

Software developer Beijing Dazheng Human Language Technology Academy had closed the office where the software was promoted and maintained, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported, citing the company's general manager.

The company and another software developer Zhengshou Jinhui had received 41.7 million yuan ($6.16 million) in May 2008 to develop the software, the report added.

Officials from both companies were not immediately available for comment.

Beijing had said the Green Dam software was designed to block objectionable images and stamp out Internet pornography, but faced criticism that the program strengthened China's ability to censor political content.