California governor vetoes bill banning use of ‘pervert glasses’ to secretly record people

California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 1130, a measure that would have prohibited secretly recording people in public with wearable devices that include cameras and microphones. In a letter to lawmakers announcing his decision, Newsom said the bill's definition of such devices was too broad or imprecise and could cause confusion and unintended consequences. He also noted the proposal contained protections that already exist in state law.

The draft legislation sought to make California the first U.S. state to regulate smart glasses and other always-listening wearables, and would have imposed fines or possible prison sentences on people who recorded others without consent, as well as fines on device makers that failed to comply. Proponents framed the bill as a response to the rapid rollout of internet-connected glasses and similar products; critics and some consumers have used nicknames like "pervert glasses" after reports of misuse.

Manufacturers have been expanding offerings in the space: the article cites that Meta sold more than 7 million wearable glasses last year, and other hardware such as AI-enabled pendants have entered the market. Meanwhile, major tech companies continue to add always-listening features to wearables — the article notes Apple recently announced a watch software feature that can replay a 15-second transcript and summarize conversations from the day.

Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes, who authored the bill, told ABC News the legislation was intended to help California keep pace with the rapid deployment of always-listening technologies. With the governor's veto, California lawmakers would need to revisit the proposal if they want to pursue new limits or clearer definitions for wearable recording devices.