The creator of the world’s first 3D-printed gun, Cody Wilson, has developed a tool called “Hochulization” aimed at circumventing government-mandated software designed to block 3D printers from producing firearms. This initiative marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between regulators attempting to control the proliferation of ghost guns and individuals seeking to exploit loopholes in the law.
Wilson, based in Austin, Texas, has named the tool in reference to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who recently championed legislation requiring gun file detection software on new 3D printers. “New York is trying to reach into the internet and police how open-source 3D printing is done,” Wilson stated. “I think of it as a self-defense measure.”
How Hochulization Works
The Hochulization tool modifies the hashes of 3D gun files, which are unique identifiers generated by algorithms. This alteration is intended to disrupt detection systems that rely on hash-matching to identify potential gun files. Wilson’s company, Defense Distributed, operates DEFCAD, the largest repository of 3D gun files, which contains over 200,000 designs. By changing the hashes, Hochulization ensures that detection systems cannot maintain a complete library of hashes, making it difficult to identify and block gun files.
Wilson plans to implement Hochulization as a default feature for all files on DEFCAD, allowing users to apply the tool to their downloaded files. He describes this as a necessary measure against what he perceives as invasive digital surveillance.
Regulatory Context and Implications
Wilson’s actions come amid increasing scrutiny of 3D-printed firearms. In 2021, the New York Police Department confiscated only one 3D-printed gun, but that number surged to 109 in 2024. Despite this increase, 3D-printed firearms still represent a small fraction of total firearms confiscated nationwide. The total number of firearms in the U.S. is estimated to exceed the population.
Governor Hochul has argued that such regulations are essential to combat what she calls a “plastic pipeline” of illegal firearms. Similar legislation is gaining traction in California, where a bill would also mandate print-blocking software on new printers. However, the specifics of what this software should entail remain undefined, leaving it to industry experts to determine the best approach.
Wilson’s Hochulization tool highlights the challenges regulators face in enforcing 3D-printing restrictions. While hash-matching systems may deter some users, Wilson argues that they can be easily bypassed. He has also explored more sophisticated methods of evading detection, including using adversarial noise to alter gun files without changing their functionality.
As the debate over 3D-printed firearms continues, Wilson’s approach serves as a provocative reminder of the complexities involved in regulating emerging technologies. His advocacy for open-source gun files as a form of free speech further complicates the legal landscape surrounding this issue.
For more details, visit The Verge.
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