Printer identification dots

The Electronic Frontier Foundation made me aware of printer manufactures including machine identification code technology on all printed pages. These codes appears as small, invisible pink or yellow dots. They can be revealed when viewed in a microscope with a blue LED emitted light.

I had not even heard of, nor believed that such technology where included with laser printers for regular business and private consumers. I am seriously shocked over how much secret information there is about every each and one of us! Such as tracking technologies implemented in normal consumer gods that we are not even made aware of…

Concerned? Check your laser printer on EFF's list, and ask to replace it if it does indeed include this spying technology.

This is the worst kind of privacy intrusion I can think of. What I print out on my own printer is my own, God damn business! I thought the days when you could identify which printer a document where printed on where long gone. But oh no! They have just fixed those old incoherencies that made that possible, and replaced it with smarter, more invisible technology!

Oh, I get so upset when I learn about these kind of things!

I wonder whether these identification codes are included tough the drivers or directly from the printers. If it where driver based then one could presume this does not apply on Linux desktops?

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2 comments

I fail to see how this kind of information is relevant to the manufacturer.

They don't collect the paper and use it in their marketing research.

Don't let your principles ruin the day

Comment by Magnus Damli at 2007-01-14 @774.

The purpose of this technology is being able to identify exactly what printer printed that specific sheet of paper.

Here in the West we have freedom of speech, but as this is not the case everywhere else in the world it is often good to be able to print whatever political views you like. Without risking having your head chopped off, that is.

Comment by Daniel Aleksandersen at 2007-01-15 @056.