Newsom vetoes California bill targeting secret wearable recording

Senate Bill 1130 sought to establish California as the first U.S. state to strictly regulate smart glasses, which have faced public scrutiny following reports of users secretly filming or harassing others. The proposal aimed to mandate explicit consent for recording, threatening violators with fines or jail time while imposing penalties on non-compliant manufacturers. Supporters argued the law was a necessary response to the proliferation of always-on hardware from companies like Meta and Snap.

In his veto message, Newsom argued the bill’s language was too broad, potentially creating confusion rather than clarity. He maintained that California’s current privacy statutes already provide adequate coverage for the issues the legislation intended to address. The debate arrives as tech giants push deeper into ambient computing; Apple recently introduced an always-listening feature for its Watch, and Meta reported sales of over 7 million wearable glasses last year. State Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes, the bill's author, contended the measure was crucial for addressing the rapid rollout of pervasive recording technology, but for now, the state's legal framework remains unchanged.