Microsoft hammered over Passport lies

In a settlement announced today with the Federal Trade Commission, "Microsoft agreed to stop making false claims about Passport's data-collection practices and security protections, and agreed to set up an enhanced computer-security system that must pass independent review every two years, for a period of 20 years," reports Reuters. There were no breaches of security, Microsoft did not give information to third parties, and there were no fines in the settlement. Now, "tracking information collected by Passport would only be used for customer service needs and would be purged after 10 days in most cases," said Microsoft. What a pity the FTC has no power to hold the British government to similar standards.