Color Copiers/Re: jrk@sys.uea.ac.uk (Richard Kennaway)
Well, I'm glad to hear that use of color copiers isn't highly restricted, although there seems to be a good amount of misinformation (probably intentional from the SS). This is an example of a technology that cannot be controlled so the government uses warnings and threats. Similarly, (non-escrow) crypto could end up like this: penalties could be applied if it is used for illegal activity. If such a law were proposed, it would be difficult to oppose it on the basis of freedom of expression. Paul E. Baclace peb@procase.com
Paul Baclace writes:
Well, I'm glad to hear that use of color copiers isn't highly restricted, although there seems to be a good amount of misinformation (probably intentional from the SS).
This is an example of a technology that cannot be controlled so the government uses warnings and threats. Similarly, (non-escrow) crypto could end up like this: penalties could be applied if it is used for illegal activity. If such a law were proposed, it would be difficult to oppose it on the basis of freedom of expression.
There was a very good PBS show, probably on "Nova," about modern counterfeiting methods and what various countries are doing about it (embedded fibers, special papers, holograms, etc.). High-res color scanners (600 dpi minimum) are used to forge paychecks, traveller's checks, and currency. The scanner allows the forger to use packages like Photoshop to adjust serial numbers, payee names, etc. Minor touch-ups, etc. Pretty hard to control availability of these systems, and pretty hard to force "hidden messages" to be (somehow) embedded in the final output. My personal guess is that these problems will accelerate the conversion to government-mandated "digital money," albeit not of a Chaumian sort and certainly not of the sort many of us favor. A way to handle transfer payments (AFDC, SS, veterans, etc.), to reduce fraud and theft, etc. Perhaps merged with the "National ID smartcard" being talked about for the new national health care system? We've debated this a couple of times (I'm not saying don't debate it now, just letting folks know the history...). Duncan Frissell has argued persuasively that the many advantages of cash will keep it common. Maybe. In any case, something to think about. --Tim May (according to Dettweiler, "List TRAITOR YYY" :-} ) -- .......................................................................... Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@netcom.com | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero 408-688-5409 | knowledge, reputations, information markets, W.A.S.T.E.: Aptos, CA | black markets, collapse of governments. Higher Power: 2^756839 | Public Key: PGP and MailSafe available. Note: I put time and money into writing this posting. I hope you enjoy it.
Paul Baclace writes:
Well, I'm glad to hear that use of color copiers isn't highly restricted, although there seems to be a good amount of misinformation (probably intentional from the SS).
Well, a prime-time newsmagazine recently reported on this, and the Canon copier with the copier ID imprinting technology (or hoax) was explicitly discussed. I think that it's always important to keep in mind that manufacturers of things like copiers & printers are primarily (almost exclusively!) interested in one thing: profit. If they detect heat from the Secret Service, they call the legal department to get an estimate on how much it will cost in direct expenditures and lost opportunity to fight regulations in court, and simultaneously call the engineering department to find out how much it'll cost to do what the Feds want. The smaller number wins. Though it might remain legal for you to build your own color copier or dye sublimation printer in your garage, the Feds would have been pretty much successful. Seriously: how many Fortune 1000 companies will refuse to buy a Canon copier because of the serial number thing? A few might have some reservations, but since so much material will be identifiable as belonging to the company anyway it doesn't seem like a big deal. Canon might even be able to sell it as a quality control feature. -- Mike McNally
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m5@vail.tivoli.com -
peb@PROCASE.COM -
tcmay@netcom.com