This bill on smart glasses just got blocked by California’s Governor Newsom. Here’s why

California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill on Wednesday that aimed to penalize individuals for using smart glasses to record people without consent in private spaces, such as changing rooms and doctor's offices. The legislation would have also required companies manufacturing smart glasses or other wearable devices, starting in 2028, to include a light or feature indicating they are recording.

Newsom claimed the bill's definition of a wearable recording device was too broad, stating that California already prohibits recording someone without consent in private spaces. Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, which have gained popularity since their 2021 release, with over 7 million devices sold in the previous year, were mentioned in the veto letter.

State Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes, who proposed the bill, emphasized that it would have helped protect individuals' privacy rights. The legislation, if passed, would have been the first of its kind in the nation, building upon California's stringent privacy protections and requiring consent from both parties before recording conversations via audio or video. Violators of the bill faced potential prison time or fines of up to $1,500.