Is Your Printer Spying On You?
The FPF's 'computer wizzard' (JK) is always on the look-out for items like these: ''Imagine that every time you printed a document, it automatically included a secret code that could be used to identify the printer - and potentially, the person who used it. Sounds like something from an episode of "Alias," right?''
HR: And, of course anybody can blame you for 'being paranoic': characterized by a continuing and healthy suspiciousness, a good dose of mistrust of people, [especially those 'running' the world] and sometimes live-saving sensitivity:
BUT, AS SHOWN HERE AGAIN: THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE NOT AFTER YOU...
Is Your Printer Spying On You?
Learn to decode 'Xerox DocuColor' tracking dots using our guide - or use our decoding program to decode them.
Unfortunately, the scenario isn't fictional. In a purported effort to identify counterfeiters, the US government has succeeded in persuading some color laser printer manufacturers to encode each page with identifying information. That means that without your knowledge or consent, an act you assume is private could become public. A communication tool you're using in everyday life could become a tool for government surveillance. And what's worse, there are no laws to prevent abuse.
The ACLU recently issued a report revealing that the FBI has amassed more than 1,100 pages of documents on the organization since 2001, as well as documents concerning other non-violent groups, including Greenpeace and United for Peace and Justice. In the current political climate, it's not hard to imagine the government using the ability to determine who may have printed what document for purposes other than identifying counterfeiters.
NO LAWS TO STOP THE SECRET SERVICE?
Yet there are no laws to stop the Secret Service from using printer codes to secretly trace the origin of non-currency documents; only the privacy policy of your printer manufacturer currently protects you (if indeed such a policy exists). And no law regulates what sort of documents the Secret Service or any other domestic or foreign government agency is permitted to request for identification, not to mention how such a forensics tool could be developed and implemented in printers in the first place.
With no laws on the books, there's nothing to stop the privacy violations this technology enables. For this reason, EFF is gathering information about what printers are revealing and how - a necessary precursor to any legal challenge or new legislation to protect your privacy. And we could use your help.
In the preliminary research paper linked below, we explain what we've observed so far, briefly explore the privacy implications, and ask you to print and send us test sheets from your color laser printer and/or a color laser printer at your local print shop.
WATCH THE WATCHERS!
That way, we can watch the watchers and ensure that your privacy isn't compromised in ways that harm your fundamental consitutional rights.
In addition to documenting what printers are revealing, EFF has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, and we will keep you updated on what we discover. In the meantime, we urge you to participate and pass the word along about this research project.
Thank you for your support!
More information & 'working links' at Url.: http://www.eff.org/Privacy/printers/
* List of printers that do or do not print tracking dots - Url.: http://www.eff.org/Privacy/printers/list.php
* White paper: "Investigating Machine Identification Code Technology in Color Laser Printers"
* Directions for printing test sheets
* FOIA request
* DocuColor Tracking Dot Decoding Guide
* Andrew "bunnie" Huang's research on printer watermarking, including a modified scanner that scans only in blue
Articles: Government Uses Color Laser Printer Technology to Track Documents PCWorld, 2005
Dutch Track Counterfeits Via Printer Serial Numbers. PCWorld, 2004
FBI Is Keeping Documents on ACLU and Other Peaceful Groups ACLU, 2005
Mailing list - People who are interested in participating in our research are encouraged to join the printers list to discuss our progress with other volunteers.
Recursos e información de EFF en Español - Url.: http://www.eff.org/spanish/
Fwd. by:
FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor : Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/66dmo
The Netherlands
FPF@Chello.nl
MAIN$TREAM MEDIA MAKE MORONS!
* Are their Corporate News Media Incompetent, Criminally Negligent or Complicit? - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/cqpfe
* Brainwashed? - Take the free 'Gullibility Factor' test to find out if you're really a mind slave, or not - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/cbgnc
* Help all the troops of whatever nationality to come back from abroad! We need them badly at home in many countries - AND WITH ALL THEIR WEAPONS, WHICH WE PAID FOR BY TAXES - to fight with us against our so called 'governments' and their malignant managers - Url.: http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/
* The World Can't Wait! - Drive out the neocons and their 'Bush Regime' - Mobilize for November 2, 2005! - Url.: http://www.worldcantwait.org/
FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html
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HR: And, of course anybody can blame you for 'being paranoic': characterized by a continuing and healthy suspiciousness, a good dose of mistrust of people, [especially those 'running' the world] and sometimes live-saving sensitivity:
BUT, AS SHOWN HERE AGAIN: THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE NOT AFTER YOU...
Is Your Printer Spying On You?
Learn to decode 'Xerox DocuColor' tracking dots using our guide - or use our decoding program to decode them.
Unfortunately, the scenario isn't fictional. In a purported effort to identify counterfeiters, the US government has succeeded in persuading some color laser printer manufacturers to encode each page with identifying information. That means that without your knowledge or consent, an act you assume is private could become public. A communication tool you're using in everyday life could become a tool for government surveillance. And what's worse, there are no laws to prevent abuse.
The ACLU recently issued a report revealing that the FBI has amassed more than 1,100 pages of documents on the organization since 2001, as well as documents concerning other non-violent groups, including Greenpeace and United for Peace and Justice. In the current political climate, it's not hard to imagine the government using the ability to determine who may have printed what document for purposes other than identifying counterfeiters.
NO LAWS TO STOP THE SECRET SERVICE?
Yet there are no laws to stop the Secret Service from using printer codes to secretly trace the origin of non-currency documents; only the privacy policy of your printer manufacturer currently protects you (if indeed such a policy exists). And no law regulates what sort of documents the Secret Service or any other domestic or foreign government agency is permitted to request for identification, not to mention how such a forensics tool could be developed and implemented in printers in the first place.
With no laws on the books, there's nothing to stop the privacy violations this technology enables. For this reason, EFF is gathering information about what printers are revealing and how - a necessary precursor to any legal challenge or new legislation to protect your privacy. And we could use your help.
In the preliminary research paper linked below, we explain what we've observed so far, briefly explore the privacy implications, and ask you to print and send us test sheets from your color laser printer and/or a color laser printer at your local print shop.
WATCH THE WATCHERS!
That way, we can watch the watchers and ensure that your privacy isn't compromised in ways that harm your fundamental consitutional rights.
In addition to documenting what printers are revealing, EFF has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, and we will keep you updated on what we discover. In the meantime, we urge you to participate and pass the word along about this research project.
Thank you for your support!
More information & 'working links' at Url.: http://www.eff.org/Privacy/printers/
* List of printers that do or do not print tracking dots - Url.: http://www.eff.org/Privacy/printers/list.php
* White paper: "Investigating Machine Identification Code Technology in Color Laser Printers"
* Directions for printing test sheets
* FOIA request
* DocuColor Tracking Dot Decoding Guide
* Andrew "bunnie" Huang's research on printer watermarking, including a modified scanner that scans only in blue
Articles: Government Uses Color Laser Printer Technology to Track Documents PCWorld, 2005
Dutch Track Counterfeits Via Printer Serial Numbers. PCWorld, 2004
FBI Is Keeping Documents on ACLU and Other Peaceful Groups ACLU, 2005
Mailing list - People who are interested in participating in our research are encouraged to join the printers list to discuss our progress with other volunteers.
Recursos e información de EFF en Español - Url.: http://www.eff.org/spanish/
Fwd. by:
FOREIGN PRESS FOUNDATION
Editor : Henk Ruyssenaars
http://tinyurl.com/66dmo
The Netherlands
FPF@Chello.nl
MAIN$TREAM MEDIA MAKE MORONS!
* Are their Corporate News Media Incompetent, Criminally Negligent or Complicit? - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/cqpfe
* Brainwashed? - Take the free 'Gullibility Factor' test to find out if you're really a mind slave, or not - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/cbgnc
* Help all the troops of whatever nationality to come back from abroad! We need them badly at home in many countries - AND WITH ALL THEIR WEAPONS, WHICH WE PAID FOR BY TAXES - to fight with us against our so called 'governments' and their malignant managers - Url.: http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/
* The World Can't Wait! - Drive out the neocons and their 'Bush Regime' - Mobilize for November 2, 2005! - Url.: http://www.worldcantwait.org/
FPF-COPYRIGHT NOTICE - In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107 - any copyrighted work in this message is distributed by the Foreign Press Foundation under fair use, without profit or payment, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information. Url.: http://liimirror.warwick.ac.uk/uscode/17/107.html
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