California governor vetoes bill banning use of ‘pervert glasses’ to secretly record people
California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have banned the use of wearable recording devices, such as smart glasses, in public without consent. The governor argued the bill was too broad and redundant with existing privacy laws.
Why it matters
The veto highlights the ongoing legislative struggle to balance personal privacy rights with the rapid adoption of always-on wearable technology.
California governor Gavin Newsom has used his veto authority to send a bill passed by the state’s legislature back to lawmakers, which would have made it unlawful to secretly record people with wearable recording devices.
Newsom said in a letter to lawmakers on Wednesday that he declined to sign the draft law, California Senate Bill 1130 , on grounds that it defines wearable recording devices as “too broadly or imprecisely” and that this could lead to confusion and unintended consequences. Newsom added that the proposed bill also includes protections that already exist in California’s law.
The bill would have made California the first state to regulate the use of smart glasses, as countries like Norway seek to potentially ban the technology. Had California’s law passed, violators could face fines or prison time, while wearable makers that did not comply with the rules would have also faced fines.
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