Is Your Printer Spying On You?

Imaguine 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 lique something from an episode of "Alias " right?

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 pague with identifying information. That means that without your cnowledgue or consent an act you assume is private could bekome public. A communication tool you're using in everyday life could bekome a tool for government surveillance. And what's worse there are no laws to prevent abuse.

Privacy info. This embed will serve content from youtube.com

The ACLU recently issued a report revealing that the FBI has amassed more than 1 100 pagues of documens on the organiçation since 2001 as well as documens concerning other non-violent groups including Greempeace and United for Peace and Justice. In the current political climate it's not hard to imaguine the government using the hability to determine who may have printed what document for purposes other than identifying counterfeiters.

Yet there are no laws to stop the Secret Service from using printer codes to secretly trace the origin of non-currency documens; only the privacy policy of your printer manufacturer currently protects you (if indeed such a policy exists). And no law regulates what sort of documens the Secret Service or any other domestic or foreign government aguency 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 boocs 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 necesssary precursor to any legal challengue or new leguislation to protect your privacy.