GoKawiilNewsom vetoes California bill mandating recording indicators on smart glasses
Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed legislation that would have required smart glasses and other wearable devices to include a light or sound signaling active recording starting in 2028. The bill also would have penalized secret recording in private spaces like changing rooms and doctor's offices, and banned tools designed to hide recording indicators. Newsom said the bill's definition of a wearable recording device was too broad, noting existing state law already bars nonconsensual recording in private spaces.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The veto leaves a regulatory gap as devices like Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, which sold over 7 million units last year, become more widespread, potentially delaying clearer rules on detecting hidden recording. Industry group TechNet, representing companies including Meta and Google, was involved in opposing the measure, suggesting tech firms may have pushed back against compliance costs or definitional scope. The decision could prompt lawmakers to revise and reintroduce narrower legislation targeting wearable recording devices specifically.
- Newsom vetoed a bill requiring smart glasses to signal when they're recording, citing overly broad definitions.
- The bill would have been the first in the nation to specifically address wearable recording devices like smart glasses.
- Industry group TechNet, including Meta and Google, was noted in connection with opposition to the legislation.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses — This is the exact device at the center of the legislative debate—AI-powered smart glasses with a built-in camera and recording indicator light. If you're curious about the tech prompting these privacy law discussions, trying them firsthand shows how recording notifications and wearable cameras actually work in practice.
See Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: fastcompany.com, 2026-10-01
Published there as: “This bill on smart glasses just got blocked by California’s Governor Newsom. Here’s why”
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