The vetoed legislation, authored by State Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes, would have mandated a light, sound, or other indicator alerting nearby people when a wearable device is capturing audio or video. It also prohibited disabling those indicators and made it a misdemeanor to record people without explicit consent in places where they reasonably expect privacy, such as offices and retail stores. Violations could have carried up to a year in county jail, fines up to $1,500, or both.
Newsom acknowledged in his veto message that reports of invasive uses of the technology "demand a legislative response." However, he argued the bill could create "significant confusion and unintended consequences" by including certain smartwatches and other commonly worn recording devices. The governor also noted existing laws criminalizing recording in places where people reasonably expect privacy and recording confidential communications without consent.
TechNet, a trade association whose members include Meta, Google, and Amazon, opposed the legislation, saying existing laws already address unlawful recording, according to the Associated Press.
Smart glasses from companies like Meta and Snap have raised privacy questions, with Meta selling over 7 million pairs last year. Meta's glasses feature a small white light that flashes during recording, and the company has taken steps to prevent tampering with the indicator. However, critics argue stronger legal protections are needed.
Other states are pursuing their own rules. Louisiana enacted a law this year requiring smart-glasses users to notify people in direct conversations when recording. A Pennsylvania House committee advanced a bill this month requiring visible recording indicators and prohibiting the use of biometric data to identify nonusers.
Reyes's office did not respond to requests for comment on whether she plans to reintroduce the legislation.