Thread by @thoughtfulduck

A thread about PRINTERS and SECRET MESSAGES. Turns out (I didn't know this until recently) the majority of color laser printers embed coded, colored dots on printed pages. I made a video about it:

Though the FBI has yet to publicly acknowledge it, many privacy experts believe this printer code was how feds tracked down NSA whistleblower Reality Winner so quickly after she leaked documents that showed definitive proof of Russian interference in the U.S. election.

As an astonishing aside not mentioned in the video — Reality Winner was sentenced to 63 months in prison for her leak to @theintercept. It's the longest sentence ever for a whistleblower who leaked national defense info.

Compare that sentence to those who allegedly aided in Russia's election interference and their respective sentences, some of which are ongoing or have had sentencing delayed while they cooperate with various investigations:

Michael Cohen - 36 months
Paul Manafort - 7.5 years
George Papadopoulos - 14 days
Roger Stone - Arrested, awaiting trial
Mitchell Flynn - ? pending cooperation
Rick Gates - ? pending cooperation
Sam Patten - ? pending cooperation
Maria Butina - ? pending cooperation

I mention this to point out the risk taken by whistleblowers. When Reality Winner leaked the NSA documents < 25% of Americans didn't believe Russia interfered in U.S. elections. Now Winner is paying a severe price for what she (and many others) believed should be publicly known.

Debates on whistleblowing/personal privacy aside, it's fascinating to me that so many printers embed these tiny bits of information in code on EVERY document. Why? And why is there no way to turn it off?

If you're interested in more info, the @EFF is one of the bigger advocates for consumer electronic privacy (and far, far more knowledgeable than yours truly).