Newsom Vetoes California Bill On Secret Smart Glasses Recordings
California’s governor rejected a bill targeting covert recordings with wearable devices, citing an overly broad definition and existing privacy protections.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed SB 1130, a bill passed by state lawmakers that sought to restrict secret recordings made with wearable devices such as smart glasses. In a letter to lawmakers, Newsom said the proposal defined those devices too broadly and could create confusion and unintended consequences, according to TechCrunch and Engadget.
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What the bill would have done
The reports describe the bill’s reach differently. TechCrunch says it sought to prevent people from being recorded in public places without their explicit consent. Engadget focuses on a proposed misdemeanor for using a wearable device to record someone in an area of a business where that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as a changing room or doctor’s office.
Engadget reports that SB 1130 would also have required wearable-device makers to provide an indicator when a device was recording audio or video. It would have prohibited the sale of technology designed to conceal a recording light or sound. According to Engadget, a person found guilty of secretly recording someone could have faced a fine of up to $1,500, a prison sentence, or both. Makers that failed to provide an indicator, or made technology to block one, could have faced fines of up to $2,500 per violation.
Why Newsom rejected it
Newsom warned that the bill’s definition of a “wearable recording device” could cover smartwatches and other commonly worn devices capable of recording, Engadget reports. TechCrunch says he also argued that the bill included protections already found in California law.
Engadget notes that California already prohibits electronic-device recordings in places where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The state also requires both participants in a conversation to consent to its recording, the outlet reports. Engadget nonetheless suggests that more specific language addressing smart glasses might have helped discourage privacy violations.
Wearables and the industry response
The veto comes as more wearables include cameras and microphones. TechCrunch points to internet-connected glasses from Meta and Snap among the products raising concerns about recordings. The outlet says critics and consumers have used the term “pervert glasses” following reports of people being recorded and harassed.
The proposed manufacturer requirements also drew industry opposition. TechNet, an advocacy group representing technology companies, opposed the bill, according to Engadget. For wearable-device makers, the veto means SB 1130’s proposed recording-indicator requirements and related penalties will not take effect; the existing privacy rules described by Engadget remain in place.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.