Monitoring and authorizing collection of printed media. A print task is received. A unique electromagnetic (EM) signature is generated for the received print task. Files for the print task are printed including the EM signature. Communication information is received including information exchanged between a radio frequency identification (RFID) badge associated with a user requesting access to a common printing area and a RFID reader associated with the common printing area, and information by an electromagnetic detector of a computer from the EM signature. Based on the first and second set of received communication information, an attempted collection of the printed media by the print task owner is determined. If the attempted collection is not made by the print task owner, a notification is transmitted to a computer associated with the print task owner indicating an unauthorized attempted collection of the printed media.