Infamous color printer tracking dots exposed!

[Dave Grossman]

Be careful what you print!

http://www.cockeyed.com/citizen/prin...ots/dots.shtml

- Dave

[falstro]

The interesting thing is there's even a link that takes you to a "List of printers which do or do not print tracking dots" for all you counterfeiters out there.

[peterbright]

Or those who don't trust the government

[Cerb]

Originally Posted by falstro

The interesting thing is there's even a link that takes you to a "List of printers which do or do not print tracking dots" for all you counterfeiters out there.

I don't enjoy the idea of secrets like this, and I've never made a fake bill in my life.

[fenderhutz]

Think about this in terms of if someone abucts your wife or child and prints out a demand letter.

I know this isn't what it was made for, but if the person registered their printer it is a direct hit.

[Jeremy Crockett]

Yes let's get up in arms because the government actually cares about that insignificant paper you're typing at the Community College.

[IanStephenson]

And maybe they're intercepting all your emails, and web site vists in case some hypothetical terrorist is looking up bomb recipies/emailing co-conspiritors.

It's a REALLY small step from this kind of technology, to having IE send your browsing info to the gov. If they can convince the printer companies embed this stuff, then microsoft would be happy to have a reason to collect the info for them.

If you don't see the problem here, you really need to think about what else this could be applied to. For those in the US you might like to remember that the last line of your national anthem ends in a question mark: "Land of the Free?"

Ian

[HollowBassman]

My privacy feels like this: right now.

[Happynoj]

I love Cockeyed. It is such a great website. Their scientific experiments are awesome. And also 'How Much Is In...?'

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by IanStephenson

And maybe they're intercepting all your emails, and web site vists in case some hypothetical terrorist is looking up bomb recipies/emailing co-conspiritors.

It's a REALLY small step from this kind of technology, to having IE send your browsing info to the gov. If they can convince the printer companies embed this stuff, then microsoft would be happy to have a reason to collect the info for them.

If you don't see the problem here, you really need to think about what else this could be applied to. For those in the US you might like to remember that the last line of your national anthem ends in a question mark: "Land of the Free?"

Ian

Depends where you define free. For instance, you arent free to kill another man. . .

You are allowed to defend your assets are you not? Thats pretty much all the government is doing there.

[Depth_Charge]

People are free to kill each other and murders happen all the time as a result of this level of freedom ,in all kinds of contexts (accidental, criminal, military)!

Yes, there are consequences to the actions chosen AFTER THE FACT and no, I do not agree that it's right to kill people nor am I defending people who do do it, but the simple fact that it happens, and happens alot, leads me to believe that people are actually free to do it, at least once in some contexts.

On topic, I am sure the govts. of the world have all kinds of monitoring systems and devices to ensure they can predict and track behaviour best they can and this method of tracking printed media does not surprise me at all.

[peterbright]

I wish they hadn't imbedded that chip in my head.

[Bryan316]

When I first got a color printer, back in high school, I printed a 7-1/2 dollar bill with a teacher's face in the portrait. It looked horrible and hilarious. But I guess you had to have him as a teacher in order to get the 7-1/2 dollar joke.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by Depth_Charge

People are free to kill each other and murders happen all the time as a result of this level of freedom ,in all kinds of contexts (accidental, criminal, military)!

Yes, there are consequences to the actions chosen AFTER THE FACT and no, I do not agree that it's right to kill people nor am I defending people who do do it, but the simple fact that it happens, and happens alot, leads me to believe that people are actually free to do it, at least once in some contexts.

On topic, I am sure the govts. of the world have all kinds of monitoring systems and devices to ensure they can predict and track behaviour best they can and this method of tracking printed media does not surprise me at all.

I would hardly say you are free to do something if you must face the consequences.

I think its fine though, you dont trust the government, it doesnt trust you, everyones happy

[Kosko]

Who even uses paper anymore?

Worry about Telecom immunity, not paper.

[Depth_Charge]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

I would hardly say you are free to do something if you must face the consequences.

That makes no sense at all. All actions have consequences! You're effectively saying people aren't free to act if there is a consequence attached to their choices.

So people aren't free to breathe because a consequence of breathing is staying alive. But people aren't free to not breathe either, because a consquence of not breathing is dying.

That's some weird logic there, and I've had my fun with it, thanks.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by Depth_Charge

That makes no sense at all. All actions have consequences! You're effectively saying people aren't free to act if there is a consequence attached to their choices.

So people aren't free to breathe because a consequence of breathing is staying alive. But people aren't free to not breathe either, because a consquence of not breathing is dying.

That's some weird logic there, and I've had my fun with it, thanks.

Ok, take that in the wrong context then . . .

I was meaning as in if you are going to be locked up for doing something, you arent free to do it.

But, your a prisoner, so you wouldnt understand

[Vandelay]

Looks like it's only applicable to color LASER printers, which very few people own. So feel free to send threatening letters to politicians using your ink-jet.