"HarryKrause" wrote in message
...
Doug Kanter wrote:
"HarryKrause" wrote in message
...
July 30, 2005 12:27 PM PDT
EFF probes printer watermarks

Color laser printers print hidden data that lets law enforcement
agencies tell which printer was used and when, according to the
Electronic Frontier Foundation. The EFF on Thursday sent a freedom of
information act request to the U.S. Secret Service in an attempt to get
details on the tracing feature, which the group says impacts the privacy
of users.

Do you think the printer manufacturers designed these things at the
behest of the government? Or are they just the trails left by a
particular design, in the same way a not-so-old Chrysler mini-van smells
like a 30 year old pickup that's never had its oil changed?

Well, I have always heard that "the police" could match up a photocopy
from a Xerox machine or a copy from a Laserprinter to a copy they were
holding as evidence because of manufacturing marks burned into images
through the printing process. I have no idea, however, if that is the
truth.

Frankly, I wouldn't put anything past the Bush Administration when it
comes to the eroding of individual civil liberties. There hasn't been
another POTUS in my lifetime who has done more to erode individual civil
liberties than Bush.

I'm having a hard time believing this printer thing was done at the urging
of the government. However, it makes perfect sense for a company like HP,
which may benefit from being able to identify its brand, and perhaps model.


On a slightly related note, if you buy a new handgun in Maryland through
legal channels, a spent round casing must be sent to the state police.
Manufacturers who sell through dealers in Maryland include the spent
casing in the presentation box.

I suppose if a crime is committed with a semi-auto handgun that ejects
casings, a match could be made in a state police lab.

This is a source of tremendous amusement in rec.guns.