# IDs in color copies and prints

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ids-in-color-copies-and-prints/5365>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 16, 1999, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ids-in-color-copies-and-prints/5365 "1999-12-16T03:53:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 1999, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ids-in-color-copies-and-prints/5365/1 "1999-12-16T03:53:00Z")

</div>

I’ve just read the latest post on on the comp.risks ng, and it had a fascinating item. The item is also available here:  
[http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/20.68.html#subj5](http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/20.68.html#subj5)

The item reads in part:

> [@](#):
>
> …xerographic color copiers/printers include “steganographically” encoded IDs. Essentially, these IDs are encoded repeatedly as part of the background “noise” in images, and cannot be decoded without knowledge of the proprietary algorithms involved.

Any comments? And are you looking over your shoulder for the hidden telescreens, like me?

z

“Who controls the past, controls the present. Who controls the present, controls the future.”

Orwell, **1984**