California Gov. Newsom Vetoes Smart Glasses Privacy Bill

Gov. Newsom vetoes bill penalizing secret recordings with smart glasses, citing overbroad definition and existing privacy laws.

Editorial Desk

October 1, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Sacramento, California — California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have penalized the use of smart glasses to secretly record people in private spaces like changing rooms and doctor’s offices.

The legislation, known as SB 1130, aimed to require companies making wearable devices to include features indicating when recording is happening. It also sought to ban technology that could conceal such features. Newsom argued the bill’s definition of a wearable recording device was too broad and that existing state laws already prohibited unauthorized recordings in private areas.

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The measure would have been the first of its kind in the nation, building on California’s strong privacy protections. However, tech industry groups opposed it, claiming it would unfairly burden businesses. Consumer advocacy groups supported the bill, highlighting concerns about the growing use of smart glasses and the need for clearer privacy safeguards.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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