Destroyed 3D printed objects may still hold traceable forensic information
Ghost guns highlight the darker side of modern 3D printing technology
Fingerprinting systems can embed timestamps, geolocations, and printer identification data
SIDE offers break-resilient embedding methods for forensic data recovery
The rise of 3D printing has offered new ways to produce tools, spare parts, and even art. Yet its darker use has gained attention through “ghost guns.”
These are firearms produced outside regulatory systems, which are difficult to trace and have already been implicated in violent crime, including the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Thankfully, researchers now believe that even if someone smashes such an object, investigators could still recover valuable forensic information.Building a system of hidden fingerprints
The idea of fingerprinting in 3D printing is not entirely new. Various approaches embed unique information into printed items, often including details like timestamps, printer identification, and geolocation data.
Until now, a weakness has remained: what happens when a printed object is broken into pieces or deliberately tampered with?
A team led by Netanel Raviv at Washington University in St.
