BEIJING -- China's industry and technology minister said the government will "absolutely not" force the mass installation of Internet-filtering software on personal computers, in Beijing's clearest climb-down to date on the software, which has aroused concerns over Internet users' freedom in China.

Li Yizhong said China will continue to install the software, called Green Dam-Youth Escort, on computers at schools, in Internet cafes, and in other public places.

After meeting fierce resistance from foreign computer makers and Chinese Internet users, the plan to require the software to be shipped with all computers sold in the country was delayed indefinitely in June.

Mr. Li said Thursday the software was always intended to be optional and not a mandatory installation, adding that the regulations were unclear when first released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in May.

The regulation "wasn't fully considered, and not expressed clearly, and gave everyone the impression that this is mandatory," he said.