Pole faces prison for "Google bombing" targetted to the Polish President
A Polish computer programmer, Marek W, might go to prison for 3 years for
having created a program that linked Polish President Lech Kaczynski’s
website to the word “kutas” meaning penis in Polish vulgar language.
Marek, charged for insulting the President, admitted he had created a
so-called “Google bomb” in order to check out his abilities. He has written
a software programme for what is known as “website positioning.” Typing a
certain word into a search engine automatically brings forth a certain
website; in this case typing “kutas” in Google triggered the President’s
website.
Andrzej Holdys, a regional prosecutor stated: “If somebody uses a derogatory
word to libel the head of state than it’s a clear insult which violates the
law” considering that the case had nothing to do with the freedom of speech.
Yet, the charges were criticised by Jacek Bialas of Amnesty International in
Poland who thought that the President should have filed a case against Marek
as a private person if he had felt insulted.
Google stated at the beginning of 2007 that they had succeeded in defusing
the impact of Google bombs by applying a scalable algorithm.
Linking president to penis may put Pole in prison (14.09.2007)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKL1470285520070914
Polish Man Allegedly Arrested for Googlebombing (11.09.2007)
http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2007-09-11-n78.html