California Governor Gavin Newsom Vetoes Bill Banning Smart Glasses and Wearable Recording

California Governor Gavin Newsom has officially vetoed Senate Bill 1130, a landmark piece of legislation passed by state lawmakers that aimed to criminalize the secret recording of individuals using smart glasses and wearable recording technology. In a formal letter sent to lawmakers, Governor Newsom explained his decision to send the draft law back to the state legislature, stating that the proposed bill defined wearable recording devices "too broadly or imprecisely." Newsom cautioned that such vague language could lead to enforcement confusion and unintended legal consequences for everyday consumers. Furthermore, the governor noted that existing California state laws already provide privacy protections against unauthorized recording. Introduced by California State Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes, the bill sought to make California the first U.S. state to explicitly regulate camera-equipped eyewear and always-listening wearables, such as smart glasses produced by Meta and Snap. Advocates for the law voiced strong concerns over public privacy, citing growing incidents where discreet hardware was used to record individuals without explicit consent in public spaces. Had the measure been signed into law, violators would have faced potential fines and imprisonment, alongside financial penalties for wearable device manufacturers failing to meet compliance standards. With consumer adoption of AI-powered smart glasses expanding rapidly—Meta alone having sold millions of units—privacy advocates and tech regulators continue to debate how state laws should adapt to ambient recording technology.