Linking president to penis may put Pole in prison

["Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com>]

http://africa.reuters.com/odd/news/usnL14702855.html

WARSAW (Reuters) - A Polish computer programmer could face up to three years
in jail for linking a Polish word for penis to the presidential Web site.

Marek W., 23, created a programme that caused the official home page of
Polish President Lech Kaczynski to rank first in the list of results on the
Google search engine when "kutas", a vulgar term in Polish, was typed in by
an Internet user.

The computer programme did something similar to a practice known as "Google
bombing" that links the Web sites of politicians and companies to insulting
words or phrases.

He has been charged with insulting the president and prosecutors said on
Friday he could face up to three years in jail if convicted.

"This is not a matter of freedom of speech," said Andrzej Holdys, a regional
prosecutor in the southern town of Cieszyn, where the programmer lives.

"If somebody uses a derogatory word to libel the head of state than it's a
clear insult which violates the law."

Police said the suspect confessed to writing a programme to test his skills
at creating a Google bomb. Police and prosecutors did not give the
programmer's full name, as is usual when someone faces charges in Poland. He
has not been detained.


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