Interesting site for people that value privacy
 

Check out:

http://www.instructables.com/member/w1n5t0n/

See how your printer is ratting you out.

How to Surf anonymously

etc...

The printer thing was interesting, but they haven't figured out a workaround. Surprising that no one's figured out how to write an update to the driver software that throws out the yellow dots.

It's not the driver, it's the firmware on the printer itself. And they are legally required to have them to identify counterfeiters.

My water bottle is ratting me out every time I use it too. My pillow retains information that could, if anybody cared to look, prove that I had, at some point, placed my head upon it.

Some of the stuff there is interesting, but to me anyway "I want to move through the world without leaving a trace" does not necessarily equate to "I value privacy."

Legally?

Can you show me the law?

I think it's voluntary on the part of the printer manufactures. Especially since there are a number of models available that do not appear to have the watermarking feature.

Have you read "Little Brother"?

Now why would you ask that? ;)

"Little Brother"

My mistake, I thought I recalled it being a requirement when I learned about it a while ago.

I'm with Alex on this one.

How about a site for people who value piracy?

To be clear, I don't particularly like the marking for printers and copiers. I think if a manufacturers is intentionally adding forensic devices to their products they should reveal it and let the purchaser make up their mind.

That said, I don't think a theoretical ability to track me down necessarily equates to a violation of privacy. To prove I printed a particular piece of paper from my printer would pretty much require already knowing that I printed it. Nobody is going to find a random piece of trash at the landfill and be able to say "Alex Stroup printed this."