Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2000/03/03/polish_porn_ban_leaves_cyber/

Polish porn ban leaves cyber door open

Illegal to import, distribute and sell -- but no mention of downloading

By Linda Harrison

Posted in On-Prem, 3rd March 2000 17:13 GMT

Polish politicians today voted to ban all pornography. The parliament in Warsaw narrowly approved a total ban on the import, distribution and sale of porn. There was nothing said about sitting in front of your PC plumbing the depths of the Internet's flesh pots though. The bill, which passed the Sejm - parliament's lower house - by 210 votes to 197, would allow offenders to be fined or jailed for up to two years. In cases of child pornography, offenders could get five years' imprisonment. The move, backed by the Roman Catholic Church, still has to be approved by President Alexander Kwasniewski. His leftist allies say the ex-communist is likely to veto it, the Associated Press reported. Poland has experienced a thriving sex and pornography industry due to the freedom resulting from the collapse of communism in 1989. Top shelf Polish mag readers will presumably now have to get their kicks via the Internet. At least in cyberspace the pages can't get stuck together.® Related stories: Porn up for grabs as Excite turns off Green Light Porn sites undermine Paris brothels China shuts down Internet cafes