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October 7, 2008 6:10:06 AM CDT

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Printers Let Big Brother Connect Privacy Dots

Posted Jul 15, 08 3:13 PM CDT in Technology 

(Newser) – The growing popularity of laser printers has privacy watchdogs worried, USA Today reports. Many such printers have a feature, designed to foil currency counterfeiters, that puts a signature of microscopic dots on each page. In the US, only the Secret Service can decode the information, but there are concerns the feature could be used to track down dissidents and whistleblowers.

"There's nothing about this technology that limits its application to counterfeit investigations," said a rep for an electronic privacy group. "Some people who aren't doing anything wrong may have their privacy threatened."

Source USA Today

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Laser color printers currently make up only 4% of printer sales in the US but their popularity is growing.   ((c) oskay)
Laser color printers often contain a feature that stamps each page with dots identifying the printer's serial number.   ((c) liewcf)
A growing number of printers are being oufitted with technology that leaves a unique mark from each printer on any paper used.   ((c) liewcf)
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privacy  • counterfeit  • computer hardware  • laser printer  • printers


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