The Federal Communications Commission has proposed fining AT&T Inc. US$100,000 for failing to file an annual report detailing its compliance with customer privacy protection regulations. The FCC charged that AT&T didn't comply with the FCC's Customer Proprietary Network Information rules. In a statement, the company said it's working with the FCC to rectify the mistake.

Microsoft updates blogging policies

Microsoft Corp. has formed a new policy to deal with requests from governments that allege that posted material violates their laws. Microsoft's censoring of Chinese blogger Zhao Jing late last year prompted outrage from many of the company's own employees. Under the new policy, Microsoft will remove blogs only when given proper legal notice and only in countries where the material is illegal.

Symantec unveils security service

Symantec Corp. plans to offer a new consumer security service similar to Microsoft's Windows OneCare Live by September. Code-named Genesis, the new service will include antivirus and antispyware capabilities taken from the Norton Internet Security suite, system tools from the company's SystemWorks line and antiphishing technology it acquired in its September purchase of WholeSecurity.