December 19, 2007 2:16 PM PST
Microsoft, Yahoo, Google to pay $31.5 million for illegal gambling ads
Microsoft, Yahoo, and Google will pay a combined $31.5 million to settle allegations they accepted money for illegal gambling ads, according to the Associated Press.
All three companies said they stopped accepting ads for gambling years ago. The agreement settles an investigation launched in 2000 and conducted by the U.S. Attorney's office, the IRS, and the FBI.
Microsoft is paying out the most at $21 million, Yahoo is paying $7.5 million, and Google's share is $3 million. Part of the payment will go to the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children and for public service ads.
Elinor Mills covers Internet security and privacy. She joined CNET News in 2005 after working as a foreign correspondent for Reuters in Portugal and writing for The Industry Standard, the IDG News Service, and the Associated Press. E-mail Elinor. 
WHILE THE "X-NON-ANTI-SMOKERS" ARE SCREAMING ABOUT THE SMOKERS 'CIVIL/HUMAN-RIGHTS'?
THEY ARE IGNORING THE WHITE HOUSE.... THAT WAS/IS THE PLAN RIGHT, CROOKS????
WAKE UP FANS, SMOKING IS NOT YOUR GREAT KILLER.
"Y O U R", ELECTED GOVERNMENT IS!