However, the results show that only 14 per cent said they support the software, while 80 per cent said they are indifferent to the issue.
According to reports, Chinese media outlets have touted the survey’s findings, which were gained after polling up to 2,500 school children between the ages of six and 13 across China’s major cities.
According to reports, Chinese media outlets have touted the survey’s findings, which were gained after polling up to 2,500 school children between the ages of six and 13 across China’s major cities.
Green Dam, also known as Youth Escort, was developed to thwart the proliferation of ‘undesirable’ content on the internet, specifically pornography, by using image-recognition technology . In June, the Chinese Government mandated that computer makers pre-install the software onto their devices before marketing their products in the country, drawing criticism from not only Chinese netizens, but also free-speech activists, trade-rights groups and even the US Government.
The Government decided to roll back the Green Dam programme last week, with the software’s use being limited to computers in schools, internet cafes other public areas.
According to the South China Morning Post, many of the children polled in the survey admitted to not understanding the definition of the term ‘pornography’. To cope with the misperceptions, tutorials were set up to educate the adolescents about pornography and Green Dam’s function.
The survey additionally found that more than 50 per cent of parents polled said the software has the possibility Green Dam could protect their children from unsavoury material, but 26 per cent said they are apathetic. Nearly 50 per cent added they would not install the programme on their home computer.
Green Dam cost the Chinese Government US$6 million to develop.
