Printers Put ID Code on Documents

(San Francisco) After it was reported that makers of color laser printers, in cooperation with law enforcement agencies, have designed printers to put tiny dots on every printed document, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) cracked the code on a Xerox printer. By deciphering the dots, EFF was able to read the serial number of the printer that produced the document.

The dots are yellow and almost invisible, however, amateur document analysts can see them with a magnifier and appropriate lighting. Interpreting them apparently takes some skill. (Source)

Interesting, but not a problem, unless you're a counterfeiter or preparing a ransom note or writing a letter which threatens the President. Privacy advocates also may be troubled since the encoding of printed documents is a form of spying.

From what I know, the little dots won't impact me, but I wonder if those mysterious documents that sometimes show up in the hands of the media (i.e. RatherGate) could be traced to the originator using the spot-the-dots method. Chasing malfeasance would sure take less time.