--- Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 13:51:38 -0500 (EST) From: Gabe Goldberg <gabe@private> Sender: gabe@private To: Declan McCullagh <declan@private> Subject: Re: [Politech] Peter Trei on Postal Service, barcodes, and privacy [priv] On Fri, 31 Oct 2003, Declan McCullagh wrote: > Nah - all they have to do is put barcodes on stamps, and scan each sheet > before they hand it to you. Then, they can track back to you trivially > if you used a credit card, and with somewhat greater difficulty (think > time stamped logs and security camera records) if you used cash. > The system doesnt have to be perfect if its real goal is social control > rather than defeating careful, thoughtful opponents. What about stamps bought from unattended vending machines? A camera on each one? Expect a lot of late-night stamp purchases by Richard Nixon and Darth Vader. And rural post offices in the back of the general store? And convenience stores, and grocery stores? They'll check and record id for purchases? A camera at every checkout line? It's easy to change the imprint on metered postage. Not much anonymous postage has to leak before the whole regime is pointless. How much postage will be out and about when the system is put in place? Will they declare that all pre-regime postage must be exchanged for traceable stamps? The Post Office has been pushing the convenience of getting stamps in more places and is already feeling competition. Are they really going to take this big step backwards (or over a cliff) for more pretend security? _______________________________________________ Politech mailing list Archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Moderated by Declan McCullagh (http://www.mccullagh.org/)
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