We Can Still Stop California’s 3D Printer Surveillance Scheme

California's State Assembly has approved legislation requiring surveillance software on 3D printers. The bill, called AB 2047, aims to prevent unlicensed firearm manufacturing—but the Electronic Frontier Foundation warns the technology won't actually work. Manufacturers and open source developers would be mandated to build in print blocking features. Recent amendments weakened performance standards, shifting from requiring the software to prevent technically skilled users from circumventing it, to simply substantially reducing circumvention attempts. The EFF argues this surveillance system harms law-abiding users and small creators while benefiting large corporations. Independent filmmakers and hobby makers face restrictions that big entertainment studios can avoid. The bill also criminalizes open source experimentation and creates privacy risks—manufacturers would hold detailed records of everything users print. The legislation heads to the California Senate next. Civil liberties advocates are urging lawmakers to reject it, calling it both invasive and ineffective.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton