[HKMk23]

Consider this observation:

If you are one who happens to think that this printer dot coding is such a horrible thing, you'd for damned sure better quit posting around here. Every post is archived, time/date stamped and imminently searchable. Furthermore, the records that connect your screen name with your real I.D. are on file and can be subject to legal subpoena. Admittedly, it might take an extraordinary case for management to yield to the subpoena and give up your info, but if the government has such fearful ways and means, you can bet they have the leverage to make that happen if they really want to.

You have already left enough of a trail in cyberspace for you to be tracked, logged, pinned, pegged, scored, marked and totally owned.

This printer stuff is subatomic by comparison.

Tempest. Teapot. Deal with it.

AND, yes, I ALSO agree that "If you are not doing anything illegal, this should not bother you" is a very lame argument.

[Lazamataz]

The flaw in your argument is that we knowingly post here for ALL to see, whereas documents are usually printed for a selected subset. There is an implied privacy that even the founding fathers recognized:

Amendment IV: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Q.E.D.

[jackieaxe]

If I'm posting on Free Republic, I know every word I have written is there forever. If I buy one of these printers, I should be told upfront that every document printed can be traced back to the serial number printer. I have no problem with government taking preventative measures to stop counterfeiting, but this assumes everyone is guilty, and it's through the back door. Also, there may be other reasons where you are not "doing something wrong" where you would want the documents produced to be untraceable.

[LIConFem]

"...Every post is archived, time/date stamped and imminently searchable. Furthermore, the records that connect your screen name with your real I.D. are on file and can be subject to legal subpoena. "

That's true of nearly everything you do on the 'net, and everyone knows it. And the fact that the 'net is so insecure, doesn't mean we should simply roll over and swallow other threats to freedom as they happen.

So I'm not sure what your point was.

[antiRepublicrat]

Furthermore, the records that connect your screen name with your real I.D. are on file and can be subject to legal subpoena.

That was scary for a while, but luckily it's gotten better. A poster in New Jersey was criticizing a politician, so the politician sued for slander, got a subpoena and went to get his name. The poster defended himself and recently won his case to not have his real name automatically revealed due to a subpoena. The politician must prove the slander suit would survive on its merits. He also has to convince the court that he's not going to pull a common tactic -- bring the suit to get the name, only to drop the suit once he has it, then take private retribution against the poster. This is the tactic used by the RIAA to find file sharers.

I also like that the decision cited the Federalist Papers in emphasizing the important nature of anonymous political speech.

[Yasotay]

Consider this observation:

Considering your name ....

In a world of compromise .... some don't!