We Can Still Stop California's 3D Printer Surveillance Scheme
6 hours ago
- #Privacy
- #Legislation
- #3D Printing
- California Assembly passed AB 2047 mandating surveillance software on 3D printers, ignoring EFF warnings about privacy and feasibility.
- Amendments removed criminalization of reselling older printers but failed to address core issues: censorship, corporate surveillance, and chilling open source development.
- The bill’s performance standards were downgraded, no longer requiring effective prevention, and rely on third parties for enforcement, making it even less effective.
- Open source carveouts are ineffective, requiring compliant censorship software and imposing ambiguous standards, stifling innovation and user freedom.
- Commercial exemptions favor big studios and manufacturers, risking IP theft for small creators and businesses through surveillance data leaks.