Fitbit agrees to pay $ 12 million for not very quick reporting the burn with watches

The reports that the Smartwatch of Ioni Fitbit was overheated in 2018 and lasted until 2020. But according to American officials, the company did not report, as required by law, creating an unjustified risk of sedate injuries or death. Consumers.

On Thursday, the American Consumer Products Safety Commission announced that Fitbit agreed to pay a civil penalty of $ 12.25 million for delaying reporting that the lithium-ion battery in the watch could overheat, causing a threat.

The Commission noted that at the beginning of 2020 Fitbit issued a firmware update to reduce the possibility of overheating the battery, because consumers continued to report suffering from the watch. But Fitbit did not remind you voluntarily to mention Ionic Intelligent Watch March 2, 2022.

Until then, the Commission said that Fitbit received at least 174 reports around the world of overheating of the lithium-ion battery, which led to 118 reported injuries, including two cases of third degree burns and four second degree burns.

“Fitbit should immediately report numerous overheating incidents, including second and third degree burns, “said Commissioner Affluent Trumka Jr in a statement.” Instead, Fitbit broke the law, delaying his reporting, leaving consumers exposed to threat. Many of these injuries could be prevented. “

In a statement on Friday, Fitbit spokesman said: “Customer security is still our highest priority and we are glad that we can solve this matter with CPSC resulting from the voluntary withdrawal of Fitbit Ionic in 2022.”

About a million devices that follow activity, heart rate and sleep have been sold in the United States from September 2017 to December 2021, and an additional 693,000 sold worldwide. Fitbit said that reports on injuries accounted for less than 0.01 percent of all ion watches sold. According to the consumer committee, the company ceased to produce Jonic in 2020.

According to Consumer Consumer Consumer Commission in 2022, the owners were offered to the owners of USD 299 after returning ion watches and received a discount code for selected Fitbit devices.

As part of the settlement agreement, Fitbit agreed to present an annual report, including the updates of the effectiveness of its renovated compliance principle.

Google bought a Fitbit for $ 2.1 billion at the beginning of 2021. After agreeing that they did not employ the data on health and well -being, which Fitbit created to direct ads from Internet users.

In 2014, Fitbit remembered over a million hand bands after customers complained about severe skin irritation.

But the company avoided reminding its elegant hand bands in the same year, after similar complaints, adding a nickel allergy warning and size guidelines to prevent users from carrying the bands too strongly.