The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has issued a call to action urging Californians to oppose a bill that would require 3D printers to use locked-down slicer software and detection algorithms to prevent printing of firearms. If passed, this bill would restrict open-source 3D printing innovation, infringe on user privacy, and set a dangerous precedent for technology surveillance in other states. The bill mandates that 3D printers only accept print jobs from authorized, proprietary software, effectively eliminating the use of open-source slicers like PrusaSlicer, and requires manufacturers to implement detection algorithms.
Background
3D printers rely on slicer software to convert 3D models into instructions (G-code) for the printer. Several states have laws against 3D-printed guns, but California's bill goes further by mandating hardware-level restrictions and surveillance capabilities, which critics argue violate user autonomy and security.
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Discussion
Commenters expressed strong opposition, sharing personal anecdotes like a parent whose child's toy figurine was mistaken for a gun. Many urged contacting state senators, noting that Bay Area legislators should oppose the bill, and compared it to a similarly restrictive New York law.