The Dangers of California’s Legislation to Censor 3D Printing

California's AB 2047 would mandate algorithmic print-blocking software on all 3D printers and criminalize circumventing it — including using open-source firmware. The EFF argues this mirrors the failures of DRM: it won't stop illegal gun printing (already rare and banned), but will enable manufacturer lock-in, planned obsolescence, surveillance via cloud scanning, and barriers to repair and resale. The bill creates a costly DOJ bureaucracy to certify compliant printers and maintain a banned-blueprints database, infrastructure that could easily expand to censor copyright or political speech. Because manufacturers won't maintain separate software forks, the effects will extend globally beyond California.