this post was submitted on 09 Feb 2026
510 points (96.9% liked)

Technology

80928 readers
4712 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.

Our Rules

  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related news or articles.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
L3s@lemmy.world
enu@lemmy.world
technopagan@lemmy.world
L4s@lemmy.world
L3s@hackingne.ws
510
This whistle fights fascists | How thousands of 3D-printed whistles are derailing ICE. (www.theverge.com)
submitted 1 day ago by silence7@slrpnk.net to c/technology@lemmy.world
73 comments fedilink hide all child comments
top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Cantaloupe877@lemmy.world 22 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

Has anyone heard of “3D GUN’T” software that’s apparently being put into new 3d printers? It can apparently block prints based off the shape or whatever to prevent the printing of gun parts, and keeps tabs on who printed exactly what. It’s basically DRM for 3d printers. Also laws in certain states demanding printers be legally required to start blocking gun parts. It may be the beginning of something worse as it adds the infrastructure needed to further block “bad shapes” down the road.

https://3dprint.com/314218/daring-am-software-advances-aim-to-curb-illegal-3d-printing-of-firearms/ https://printandgo.tech/blog/3d-gunt-solution-to-prevent-3d-printed-ghost-guns

[–] ParlimentOfDoom@piefed.zip 1 points 1 hour ago

Yeah, these laws are incredibly invasive, and potentially crippling to smaller manufacturing operations.

[–] zensanto@ttrpg.network 1 points 4 hours ago

Wow! No sovereign citizen is advocating for this!

[–] vin@lemmynsfw.com -1 points 2 hours ago (2 children)

Why not buy a regular whistle?

[–] silence7@slrpnk.net 5 points 1 hour ago

Its hard to import them in quantities of a few hundred thousand, and cheaper to print them than to buy in quantities of a hundred

[–] MehBlah@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

Why buy one when a superior one can be 3d printed? Hard to stop people from printing them. I've printed thousands over the years. I'm unfamiliar with the one shown in the article. The ones I print are very loud but probably take more time than those to print per unit.

[–] AnarchistArtificer@slrpnk.net 25 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Thanks for sharing this. This bolstered my spirit.

I liked the bit where it discusses how, regardless of the effectiveness of whistles in deterring ICE, they have proven to be helpful in regular people feeling less alone.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 14 points 13 hours ago

We always have to remember: There are a LOT more of us than them. These whistles help us remember that.

[–] ThePantser@sh.itjust.works 148 points 23 hours ago (3 children)

Been printing them, just need some good locations to place my boxes

[–] silence7@slrpnk.net 52 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Anywhere in public is great. If you're in a place where ICE is less active, you'll want to package the whistles with instructions to alert the local rapid response hotline.

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 36 points 22 hours ago (8 children)

I've seen whistles with the number for the local rapid response hotline printed right on them. Must have been one of those fancy multi-filament printers.

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 6 points 13 hours ago

You can do it with any 3D printer, as long as you orient the letters so they're at the top of the print, you can insert a pause in the print job just before it starts the layers with the letters. Then you do a manual filament swap and resume the print.

Another option is to print a QR code on them with a link to instructions/the organization.

[–] Septimaeus@infosec.pub 8 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Heat stamping might be quickest alternative. Should be rugged and aid low-vision use.

Full brass letterpress type sets and die can be pricy, but the cheap leather iron kits at craft shops commonly include small metal alphanumeric types that could be set (clamped) and affixed to your stamp (burning/soldering iron or pliers + hot plate/stove).

[–] pupbiru@aussie.zone 8 points 13 hours ago

if it’s not multicolour then you can just make the printer leave indents for the letters (or print extra material to have it raised)

no need for post processing or extra equipment which slows down the process and adds extra work

load more comments (6 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] knobbysideup@sh.itjust.works 82 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago) (6 children)

They are armed. You should be too. And wear protective gear. They've permanently blinded people on purpose. They've already executed people in the street. Notice they aren't near anyplace where bpp is active.

An alarm won't stop a break in, and a whistle won't stop these goons from harming you.

[–] zensanto@ttrpg.network 2 points 4 hours ago

If you really want to fight back, learn from the Mexican cartels and Islamic insurgencies.

We have data on what works.

[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 85 points 23 hours ago

a whistle won't stop these goons from harming you.

No it will not, but it will alert everyone around you to ICEs presence so they can have an opportunity to be somewhat prepared.

You'll at least give your neighbours a chance to put some pants on, hide, barricade, or even arm themselves; before ICE tries to kick in their door.

It also calls others to your aid; quickly forming mob that out numbers ICE, forcing them to focus on crowd control instead of targeted kidnapping.

[–] silence7@slrpnk.net 27 points 22 hours ago

Intentional deescalation does more right now than having the people closest to ICE or Border Patrol agents carrying weapons.

The standard for now is that responders with guns stay back to deter massacres.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 2 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Ironic. If you want to reduce crime, invite the Black Panthers to keep the ICE Apes away.

[–] Mic_Check_One_Two@reddthat.com 11 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago) (1 children)

I mean, the Black Panthers started because people realized that peaceful unarmed protests would be violently busted, but peaceful heavily armed protests were politely watched from across the street. Blindfiring into crowds is a lot less appealing for cops when the entire crowd can return fire.

[–] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 4 points 9 hours ago

Power only respects power. Always has been that way.

[–] aBundleOfFerrets@sh.itjust.works 9 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

What is bpp?

[–] chaogomu@lemmy.world 8 points 18 hours ago

I'll assume it's the Black Panther Party.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] knobbysideup@sh.itjust.works 15 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (1 children)

You both make good points, but prevention is better than de-escalation or alerting. Being known as protected is a preventative measure.

Of course alarms/monitoring and response (de-escalation) are very important. But stopping it before it starts should get attention as well.

[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 22 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Not everyone can afford big guns and heavy armor; nor have the training/licensing required to cary/display them.

3D printed whistles are a cheap and easy aid. Every bit of resistance helps.

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 9 points 13 hours ago

nor have the training/licensing required to cary/display them.

Exactly.

Recommending that random untrained people go around armed is a recipe for disaster (see: ICE's random untrained people going around armed). It's irresponsible, at best.

I read these people as if they're calling for violence but trying to skirt the line in a way that doesn't get them banned.

[–] UltraBlack@lemmy.world 1 points 10 hours ago

Just start using lrads

[–] vladmech@lemmy.world 60 points 23 hours ago

Really cool article and movement, thanks for sharing it. I’ve been printing whistles and leaving them in my little free library but had no idea there was this nation wide movement going on.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 10 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

i mean, if we're printing whistles why ain't we printing death whistles

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 5 points 9 hours ago

They take forever to print and use a lot of filament.

They're printing liberty ships, not cruise ships.

[–] Kissaki@feddit.org 2 points 9 hours ago

I think they'd be great for distraction and irritation, but at the same time, they're not as god for signaling and alarming, and, I would imagine, would desensitize us to human screams.

[–] BenderRodriguez@lemmy.world 33 points 23 hours ago (7 children)

real ones know what I'm getting at here.

[–] LOLseas@lemmy.zip 9 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

"Dats only in the mornaing. You suhposta be up, cooking breakfast by then, so- that's like an alarm clock! WooWOOOOOOO!"

Wonder what Bubb Rubb and Lil Sis are up to in 2026.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 7 points 18 hours ago

still putting whistle tips on for the people

[–] stringere@sh.itjust.works 6 points 17 hours ago

Bub Rubb!

I can hear him sayimg woooowooooo

load more comments (5 replies)
[–] MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world 5 points 16 hours ago

Ty. Keep it up!

load more comments
view more: next ›