California Governor Vetoes Smart Glasses Privacy Bill

California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed legislation on Wednesday that aimed to enhance privacy protections related to smart glasses and other wearable recording devices. The bill, introduced by State Sen. Eloise Gómez Reyes, sought to penalize individuals for using smart glasses to record others without consent in private spaces like changing rooms and doctor's offices. It also mandated that manufacturers of smart glasses and similar devices, starting in 2028, incorporate a visible indicator, such as a light, to signal when recording is active. Furthermore, the legislation proposed a ban on the sale of accessories designed to conceal these recording indicators. Governor Newsom explained his decision in a letter, stating that the bill's definition of a "wearable recording device" was excessively broad. He pointed out that California law already prohibits recording individuals without their consent in areas where privacy is reasonably expected. The governor also noted that existing state statutes already address non-consensual recording in private settings. The proposed bill would have been the first of its kind nationally, building upon California's already robust privacy framework. California is among approximately a dozen states that require the consent of all parties involved before audio or video conversations can be recorded. Senator Reyes' proposal was intended to specifically address the growing prevalence of smart glasses and make it more apparent when these devices are capturing footage or audio. Violators of the bill would have faced potential prison sentences or fines of up to $1,500, while companies failing to comply with the device indicator requirements could have been fined up to $2,500. However, a coalition of technology executives from companies including Meta, Google, and Amazon, represented by TechNet, argued that the bill, identified as SB 1130, would have imposed unfair burdens. Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, launched in 2021, have seen significant adoption, with over 7 million units sold in the past year, highlighting the increasing presence of such AI-powered wearable technology. Senator Reyes expressed her disappointment, emphasizing the need to protect individual privacy rights in response to the rapid advancement of this technology.