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An inventor in Israel has worked out how to let people order potentially embarrassing pay-TV content, like adult movies, while remaining anonymous. Normally, when you buy a TV programme or channel access, the broadcaster sends an access code over the air (or down the cable) that is stored on the receiver’s smart card.

The payments – and what they are for – then show up on billing statements where others may see them. Instead, Yossi Tsuria suggests setting up public vending machines to sell pay-TV for cash (US 2004/111751). You slot in your smart card, select the programme and insert…

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