California Governor Blocks Bill against Secret Filming with ‘Pervert Glasses’

Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, has exercised his veto power on a bill that aimed to criminalize the secret recording of others using wearable technology. This controversial legislation was put before the state legislature and was vetoed by the Governor.

Newsom explained his decision in a letter to the legislature on Wednesday. He cited the California Senate Bill 1130 as being too vague in its definition of wearable recording devices, which could lead to confusion and potentially unintended outcomes. Newsom also expressed that the proposed legislation duplicates protections that are already a part of California law.

Had this bill been enacted, California would have been the pioneer state in the regulation of smart glasses. Other countries like Norway are also exploring the possibility of imposing similar bans. Under the proposed California law, those who violated the regulations could be subjected to penalties like fines, or even imprisonment. Furthermore, manufacturers of wearables who refused to adhere to these rules would also face fines.

The goal of the bill was to safeguard people from being recorded in public spaces without their consent – a growing concern with the increasing number of wearable devices equipped with cameras and microphones that constantly record. This includes devices like the internet-connected glasses manufactured by companies such as Meta and Snap. Last year alone, Meta sold over 7 million units of these wearable glasses. Other hardware wearables like AI-powered pendants have also been introduced with differing responses from consumers.

Eloise Gómez Reyes, the state senator who authored the bill, stated that the legislation was designed to help California address the rapid spread of always-on technology, according to a statement she gave to ABC News.

Critics and consumers have started to refer to these contentious devices as “pervert glasses” following numerous incidents of individuals being recorded and harassed. Last month, Apple announced that its latest Apple Watch software will equip watches with an always-on feature that enables users to replay the last 15 seconds of audio and provide summaries of daily conversations.