3 ms·

Wait until you hear that the USPS scans the front and back of every piece of mail that passes through its high-speed scanners, stores it for an unknown period o

Wait until you hear that the USPS scans the front and back of every piece of mail that passes through its high-speed scanners, stores it for an unknown period of time, and makes those records available to law enforcement. Those images are part of their 'informed delivery' service which you can sign up for. I've noticed on a number of occasions that the contents of the envelope were noticeable without enhancement and legible with simple contrast/level adjustment.

kyleee 2y ago
Another example of dragnet spying. People are too stressed to care
- jeffbee 2y ago
  No they just don't care. The kind of privacy maximalism found on HN appeals to one in a million. It is not a mainstream issue at all.
hunter2_ 2y ago
> the contents of the envelope were noticeable I've seen that as well, but I place the blame on the sender for using an envelope that isn't fully opaque.
- SoftTalker 2y ago
  Or they scan using UV or other frequencies so that even if the envelope is visibly opaque it’s not opaque to their scanner. Sometimes their post processing slips up and reveals that their scanner can see thru the envelope.
uoaei 2y ago
It's pretty hard to believe they don't also regularly use endoscopes on random or suspicious packages when there's a little space to insert one.
davchana 2y ago
There are whole discussions on various forums and subreddit about image background, fonts of address, sending addresses of USCIS letters to immigrants applicants, to know or guess whats the content of the letter, due to anxiety and curiosity of can't wait until you actually open the letter, that if this letter is a routine acknowledgement, or interview request, or request for proof, or approval or something. Most of the time if the address section shows a part of green statue of Liberty, its a good news.

3 ms·

Wait until you hear that the USPS scans the front and back of every piece of mail that passes through its high-speed scanners, stores it for an unknown period o

by KennyBlanken 2y ago

kyleee 2y ago
Another example of dragnet spying. People are too stressed to care
- jeffbee 2y ago
  No they just don't care. The kind of privacy maximalism found on HN appeals to one in a million. It is not a mainstream issue at all.
hunter2_ 2y ago
> the contents of the envelope were noticeable I've seen that as well, but I place the blame on the sender for using an envelope that isn't fully opaque.
- SoftTalker 2y ago
  Or they scan using UV or other frequencies so that even if the envelope is visibly opaque it’s not opaque to their scanner. Sometimes their post processing slips up and reveals that their scanner can see thru the envelope.
uoaei 2y ago
It's pretty hard to believe they don't also regularly use endoscopes on random or suspicious packages when there's a little space to insert one.
davchana 2y ago
There are whole discussions on various forums and subreddit about image background, fonts of address, sending addresses of USCIS letters to immigrants applicants, to know or guess whats the content of the letter, due to anxiety and curiosity of can't wait until you actually open the letter, that if this letter is a routine acknowledgement, or interview request, or request for proof, or approval or something. Most of the time if the address section shows a part of green statue of Liberty, its a good news.