The controversial "Green Dam" software will "absolutely not be compulsorily installed on all computers" sold in China, says Minister of Industry and Information Technology Li Yizhong.

To date, this is the most welcome message regarding the controversial "Green Dam-Youth Escort" - a filtering software intended to keep youngsters from being exposed to unhealthy online contents such as pornography.

Something meant to protect our young citizens from harmful information is worthy of applause. Yet the "Green Dam" was stonewalled because of the fear that it would compromise people's privacy and right to know.

Now, Mr Li clarifies that we have all been mistaken about what was on their mind - they had no intention to monitor our online activities, nor did they want to impose the filtering device on all personal computers. Which is different from what we heard two months back. At the June 30 press conference we heard the ministry, for some reason, was only postponing forced installation of the software. And, sources in the ministry disclosed then that compulsory installation was only "a matter of time."

And, now, Mr Li assures us that the so-called forced installation was the result of a misleading impression, which itself was the outcome of awkward representation.

It is a pity that a well-thought-out public interest initiative turned into a public relations disaster for the ministry. And it is all about misrepresentation. Never again should something like this be repeated.

We appreciate the clarity Minister Li demonstrated yesterday responding to questions regarding the "Green Dam." Had there been such an unequivocal position at that time, there would not have been all the trouble.

We fully understand and endorse the ministry's good intention to help parents who worry about the negative impact of unseemly online content. We believe it is perfectly justifiable to install filtering devices on computers in schools and Internet cafes. It would have been a wonderful initiative had it stopped right there. There is no legal ground to force it on all personal computers.

It is good to know from Mr Li that it was only a false alarm.

Mr Li promises to listen to all interested parties about how to improve the project, show full respect for people's right of choice and handle the matter properly. Which is the only sensible way to do away with misunderstandings, and repair the ministry's damaged image.

But the result would have been better had this occurred to the ministry before that disputed decision was publicized.

Making public an ill-conceived decision is as bad as misrepresenting a good one.

(China Daily August 14, 2009)