[liberationtech] dark mail alliance

[Bill Woodcock]

> On Nov 3, 2013, at 3:30, "phreedom at yandex.ru" <phreedom at yandex.ru> wrote:
> 
> I don't see how "pasting over" a QR code in a way that's not easily detectable is somehow harder than pasting over a domain/email, or printing a real-looking fake ad and pasting it over the real one.

A QR code is already isolated in an opaque white square.  It's single color, and moreover, that color is black. And it's smaller than a billboard. 

By contrast, a textual URL or email address will be in a specific typeface, probably matched to the rest of the billboard. It's also likely size-matched to other text. Most importantly, it's likely printed right over a patterned and colored background. 

While you're correct that you can address, to some degree, all of those issues by wheatpasting over the entire billboard, provided you're at least as competent a visual designer as the person who executed the original ad, which is easier to print and transport? A full-color billboard, or a black-on-white sheet of tabloid-sized paper?

To put this all in more practical terms, since these issues were not apparent to you, you're a less-skilled visual designer than anyone who would be paid to produce an advertisement. Therefore, you would not be capable of covertly coopting their advertisement. Yet you'd still be perfectly capable of successfully pasting over their QR code without anyone being the wiser. 
    
                -Bill