Greek government bans electronic games

TheRegister reports that the Greek government is banning all electronic games, with fines as severe as three months in jail plus a fine of up to 10 000 euros for those found in possession of games. Apparently the move is meant to crack down on Internet gambling, which is already illegal. At the time that the bill was under consideration, the English-language Kathinrini newspaper wrote that the "Greek government is incapable of distinguishing innocuous video games from illegal gambling machines".

Now that the bill has been passed, all electronic games have been banned because, as TheRegister says, "the legislature has concluded that all electronic games have got to go because the bureaucrats they`re maintaining on the public payroll aren`t swift enough to figure out the difference between video poker and TuXkart." [More at TheRegister]

Microsoft is closing its Passport Express Purchase service for MSN wallet following scrutiny by US trade officials. CBROnline reports that the company says it will instead re-focus on its core mission: to provide robust online authentication. The closure follows an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) into security and privacy concerns.

The FTC last month issued an order calling on Microsoft to implement a "comprehensive information security programme". The FTC`s order sets out a framework for ensuring Microsoft does not misrepresent Passport`s safety and privacy. [More at CBROnline]

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