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Fitbit Sued Over Defect in Smartwatches

Fitbit, owned by Google, has agreed to pay a $12.25 million civil penalty following allegations by federal regulators that it failed to promptly notify consumers of a defect in its Ionic smartwatches, which could overheat and cause serious burns.

Settlement Details
In addition to the monetary penalty, Fitbit will enhance its compliance program to ensure adherence to the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). This includes implementing robust internal controls and procedures to prevent future safety violations.

Burn Risks Linked to Ionic Smartwatches
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) accused Fitbit of knowingly failing to report that the Ionic smartwatches contained a defect that posed a “substantial product hazard” and an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death.

The CPSC and Fitbit jointly issued a recall for the Ionic smartwatches on March 2, 2022. According to the recall, Fitbit received at least 115 reports of overheating batteries in the U.S., with 78 cases of burn injuries. These included two reports of third-degree burns and four of second-degree burns.

Burn Reports and Delayed Action
Fitbit began receiving reports of overheating as early as 2018. By 2020, the company rolled out a firmware update in an effort to mitigate the problem. However, the CPSC stated that Fitbit continued receiving complaints of burn injuries even after the update.

“Despite possessing information that reasonably supported the conclusion that the smartwatches contained a defect… Fitbit did not immediately report to the Commission as required,” the CPSC said in its January 23 press release.

Regulatory Action
The CPSC unanimously voted 5–0 to accept the settlement agreement provisionally, pending public comments.

Consumer Safety Reminder
Consumers who own the Ionic smartwatches are encouraged to review the recall notice and take appropriate actions to ensure their safety.

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