--- title: "California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoes bill targeting smart‑glass recordings" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/california-governor-gavin-newsom-vetoes-bill-targeting-smartglass-recordings" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/california-governor-gavin-newsom-vetoes-bill-targeting-smartglass-recordings" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/california-governor-gavin-newsom-vetoes-bill-targeting-smartglass-recordings.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/california-governor-gavin-newsom-vetoes-bill-targeting-smartglass-recordings" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-01T02:25:14.663Z" source_reported: "2026-10-01T01:17:08.000Z" updated: "2026-10-01T02:25:14.663Z" trust_score: 66 critic_score: 87 hype_score: 12 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-01T03:30:27.856033+00:00" --- # California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoes bill targeting smart‑glass recordings *The legislation would have required recording indicators on devices from 2028 and imposed fines, while more than seven million AI‑powered glasses were sold in the United States last year.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 66 of 100, higher is better. Named officials and a letter provide sources, but only one independent report, yielding 66. - Craft 87 of 100, higher is better. Explains why, quotes multiple parties, gives specific data, clear story, scoring 87. - Hype 12 of 100, lower is better. Headline matches article; language measured, resulting in low hype. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed SB 1130, which would have penalised secret recording with smart glasses in private areas. - The bill would have required a recording indicator on devices from 2028 and set fines up to $1,500 for individuals and $2,500 for companies. - More than 7 million AI‑powered smart glasses were sold in the United States last year. - Centre‑rated outlets reported industry opposition and a Meta initiative for blind veterans; left‑rated outlets focused mainly on the veto. California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 1130 on 29 July 2026. The measure would have made it unlawful to use smart glasses to record people without consent in changing rooms, doctors’ offices and other spaces generally regarded as private. The proposal also required manufacturers of smart glasses and similar wearables to add a visible light or other indicator of recording starting in 2028. It set penalties of up to $1,500 for individuals and $2,500 for companies that failed to comply. The standards desk confirmed that more than 7 million AI‑powered smart glasses were sold in the United States in the previous year. Industry representatives, including TechNet, argued that the bill would unfairly burden businesses and consumers. A Meta spokesperson said the company remains committed to privacy while expanding the technology’s benefits for blind veterans. Consumer Reports cited TikTok videos describing unsettling recordings in a waxing salon and a gym, underscoring public concern. > “Whatever we can do to protect an individual’s right to privacy, we have to do,” > > — Eloise Gómez Reyes, state senator **7 million** — AI‑powered smart glasses sold in US (2025) (Washington Top News) ## Blind spot: right‑rated outlets No right‑rated outlet ran the story; none mentioned any aspect of the bill, its provisions or the surrounding debate. ## Who covered it Shares of the 10 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 60% (6) - Centre: 40% (4) - Right: 0% (0) 0 of 10 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-01T03:30:27.856033+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-01T03:45:07.776Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Four left‑rated outlets, The Seattle Times, The Independent (UK), AP News and The Independent (US), each ran a digest that noted Newsom’s veto and that the bill would have penalised people for recording with smart glasses in private settings. None of the digests mentioned the required recording indicator, the fine amounts, the sales figure for the devices, or the reactions from TechNet, Meta or Consumer Reports. ### Centre - Four centre‑rated outlets covered the story. Washington Top News published a full report that led on the veto, the indicator requirement, the fine schedule, the 7 million devices sold, TechNet’s criticism, Meta’s veteran‑aid programme and Consumer Reports’ examples. Digests from My Mother Lode, The Standard‑Journal and Winnipeg Free Press also reported the veto and noted the indicator requirement and fines, echoing the core elements of the bill. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 3 - veryHigh: 6 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/state/11183542/newsom-vetoes-measure-that-would-have-penalized-the-use-of-smart-glasses-to-secretly-record-people.html) — Newsom vetoes measure that would have penalized the use of smart glasses to secretly record people - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/national/2026/09/newsom-vetoes-measure-that-would-have-penalized-the-use-of-smart-glasses-to-secretly-record-people) — Newsom vetoes measure that would have penalized the use of smart glasses to secretly record people – WTOP News - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/newsom-vetoes-measure-that-would-have-penalized-the-use-of-smart-glasses-to-secretly-record-people) — Newsom vetoes measure that would have penalized the use of smart glasses to secretly record people - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/gavin-newsom-sacramento-meta-tiktok-google-b3059425.html) — Newsom vetoes measure that would have penalized the use of smart glasses to secretly record people - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/california-legislature-smart-glass-privacy-e599fbbff476b41b8a6ededcd2576cf9) — Newsom vetoes measure that would have penalized the use of smart glasses to secretly record people - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/gavin-newsom-sacramento-meta-tiktok-google-b3059425.html) — Newsom vetoes measure that would have penalized the use of smart glasses to secretly record people - [The Standard-Journal](https://standard-journal.com/ap/business/newsom-vetoes-measure-that-would-have-penalized-the-use-of-smart-glasses-to-secretly-record/article_c8dfd4e5-7fdd-5029-84b6-db47a101db35.html) — Newsom vetoes measure that would have penalized the use of smart glasses to secretly record people - [Oskaloosa Herald](https://oskaloosa.com/news/national_news/newsom-vetoes-measure-that-would-have-penalized-the-use-of-smart-glasses-to-secretly-record/article_70f8ee5c-8fb2-50a8-8f64-b112590ff923.html) — Newsom vetoes measure that would have penalized the use of smart glasses to secretly record people - [abc News](https://abcnews.com/Technology/wireStory/newsom-vetoes-measure-penalized-smart-glasses-secretly-record-136907179) — Newsom vetoes measure that would have penalized the use of smart glasses to secretly record people - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/sci-tech/2026/09/30/newsom-vetoes-measure-that-would-have-penalized-the-use-of-smart-glasses-to-secretly-record-people) — Newsom vetoes measure that would have penalized the use of smart glasses to secretly record people ## Questions **Why did Governor Newsom veto the bill?** Newsom said the bill’s definition of a wearable recording device was too broad and that existing state privacy laws already cover unlawful recording, according to the full report from Washington Top News. **What penalties would the bill have imposed?** The legislation would have allowed fines of up to $1,500 for individuals and $2,500 for companies that failed to include a recording indicator on smart glasses, as detailed in the Washington Top News report. **How many smart glasses were sold in the United States last year?** More than 7 million AI‑powered smart glasses were sold in the United States in the year prior to the veto, a figure reported by Washington Top News. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/california-governor-gavin-newsom-vetoes-bill-targeting-smartglass-recordings. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoes bill targeting smart‑glass recordings", https://mediabias.news/politics/california-governor-gavin-newsom-vetoes-bill-targeting-smartglass-recordings