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Thursday, 1 October 2026dailybeirut.com
AI
Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed California Senate Bill 1130, citing vague definitions of wearable devices and existing legal protections.
A proposed ban on covert audio and video capture via wearable technology has been rejected by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The executive decision halts legislation that sought to make such recordings illegal without explicit consent.
In a letter delivered Wednesday, Newsom declined to sign California Senate Bill 1130. He argued the draft law defined "wearable recording devices" too broadly or imprecisely. This ambiguity, he stated, risked causing confusion and unintended consequences for residents and manufacturers alike.
The governor further noted that the bill included protections already present in current California statutes. Consequently, the new regulatory framework was deemed redundant and potentially problematic due to its lack of precise definition.
Had the measure passed, California would have become the first state to regulate smart glasses usage. Violators faced potential fines or prison time. Manufacturers failing to comply with the rules would also have incurred financial penalties.
This legislative move coincided with international efforts, such as those in Norway, to potentially ban similar technologies. The bill aimed to address the growing presence of internet-connected glasses from companies like Meta and Snap, which feature cameras and microphones that constantly record nearby activity.
Sales data indicates significant market penetration for these devices. Meta alone sold more than 7 million wearable glasses last year. Other hardware, including AI-powered pendants, have entered the market with mixed consumer responses.
State Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes, the bill’s author, told ABC News the legislation intended to help California respond to the rapid rollout of always-listening technology. Public sentiment remains critical; controversial wearables have been dubbed "pervert glasses" following reports of harassment and non-consensual recording.
Recent industry developments highlight the expanding scope of these features. Apple announced last month that its latest Apple Watch software includes an always-listening capability. This allows users to replay transcripts of the past 15 seconds and summarize daily conversations.
