"Writeprinting" America

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THE SOURCE: "Digital Fingerprints" by Julie J. Rehmeyer, in Science News, Jan. 13, 2007.

ILLICIT ONLINE ACTIVITY--from hacking to sexual predation to communication between terrorist cells--requires anonymity. But that same cloak of privacy enables free speech on the Internet and helps protect the identity of whistleblowers. Now researchers are beginning to uncover new ways to identify individuals online, using such unique markers as typing rhythms, punctuation patterns, and Web-surfing habits. While such techniques can increase online security and help law enforcement agencies combat fraudulent activity, they also unlock troubling surveillance possibilities that are raising …