"The FBI requests $7 million to procure and deploy a digital watermarking solution capable of embedding unique digital forensic watermarks in commonly shared documents to mitigate unauthorized disclosures from the FBI's classified and unclassified networks. Digital watermarking embeds a unique overt or covert forensic marker into emails and other commonly used file types, making it possible to attribute leaked information via screen photography or other non-traditional means back to the user. If information is exfiltrated from an FBI-managed endpoint, the watermarking solution can trace the document back to an employee or group of employees."
"I was aware of the investigative use of watermarks to track down confidential government documents, but I had never believed I would find a government agency, particularly the FBI, acknowledging publicly they were using it to keep tabs on their own employees."
"Much to my surprise, the FY 2027 FBI Budget Request to Congress showed other FBI programs to catch leakers inside the Bureau. The Bureau budget document also describes other programs that are worth some public disclosure which I will discuss below."
The FBI budget request seeks $7 million for a digital watermarking solution that embeds unique forensic markers into commonly shared documents. The markers can be overt or covert and are intended to enable attribution of leaked information, including leaks captured through screen photography or other non-traditional methods. If data is exfiltrated from an FBI-managed endpoint, the watermarking system can trace the document back to an employee or group of employees. The request also indicates additional programs aimed at identifying internal leakers within the Bureau. The document is framed under transparency and public trust, and it follows public scrutiny of FBI leadership and related personnel practices.
Read at The Cipher Brief
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]