Democrats urge tech companies to bar access to 3D gun plans

Following an announcement this month that a company called Defense Distributed would begin publishing blueprints for 3D printable firearms online, a group of Democratic senators are urging tech companies to ban publication of firearm blueprints on their platforms.

While the opponents in court were only able to block the publication of these files temporarily, U.S. Sens. Edward Markey (D-MA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Richard Blumenthal (CN) have urged tech companies to block access to 3D gun printing materials for violation of terms of service. They have contacted Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft, Craigslist, Google, Reddit, and Yahoo.

The senators noted in their correspondence to the companies that reports show thousands of CAD files have already been downloaded by individuals, creating an environment that favors such information.

“The CAD files would allow users from all over the world to automate production of a gun using a 3D printer,” the senators wrote in a series of letters. “The publication of these CAD files would, therefore, make available to any person deadly weapons that are untraceable and undetectable, thereby undermining firearms laws and posing a serious risk to the safety of our communities.”

Their approach to blocking these efforts turn to the companies’ terms of service. For example, Twitter’s terms of service include the right to remove content, limit access or even ban users for conducting any illegal activities, threatening violence or glorify violence. They also prohibit the promotion of weapons and weapon accessories.

“Based on your own terms of service, we urge you to proactively prevent the online dissemination of these dangerous 3-D designs across all of your platforms. Doing so will make all of our communities safer,” the senators wrote.