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Fitbit Pays $12.25M Civil Penalty After 'Knowingly Failed To Promptly Report' Flaw Uni smart watches The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said Thursday that it has caused dozens of people to sustain burn injuries.
Fitbit agreed to pay the penalty after reaching a settlement with the CPSC.
The commission brought charges against the company for failing to comply with the law in reporting a defect that could create a product hazard or cause a risk of injury or death.
Fitbit 1.7m smartwatch recalled over burn hazard
Fitbit has agreed to pay a $12.25 civil penalty after reaching a settlement with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which accused the company of failing to report a known defect in its Ioni smartwatch. (Kiyoshi OTA/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Consumers reported overheating reports to Fitbit in 2018 with the Uni smartwatch. Those reports continued into 2019 and 2020, with some consumers telling the company they sustained second- and third-degree burns. It burns in their arms or wrists of defect
In 2020, Fitbit launched a firmware update to “reduce the potential for battery overheating,” but that didn't stop the problem, and burn-in reports persisted.
The CPSC said: “Despite having information that reasonably supports the conclusion that the smartwatches contain a defect that could create a significant product defect or create an unreasonable risk of serious injury, Fitbit immediately complied with the He did not report to the commission.”
There have been 118 reports of burn injuries from the Fitbit Ionic worldwide — 78 in the United States and 40 elsewhere. (Consumer Product Safety Commission / FOX News)
Fitbit users will be prompted to log in through Google until 2025
Although Fitbit stopped making Uni smartwatches in 2020, they were Recalled by CPSC and Fitbit on March 2, 2022 – affecting approximately 1.7 million units worldwide.
The recall stated that there have been at least 115 reports of smartwatch batteries overheating in the United States, causing burns to 78 Americans. Two reported third-degree burns, while four reported second-degree burns.
Fitbit and the CPSC issued a joint recall of the Uni smartwatch in 2022, affecting 1.7 million units worldwide. (Consumer Safety Commission / Fox News)
In addition, 59 reports of overheating internationally caused burn injuries to 40 people.
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The settlement also requires Fitbit to “maintain internal controls and procedures to ensure compliance.”
Fitbit also agreed to provide annual reports on its enhanced compliance program and internal controls, as well as an internal audit on the effectiveness of its compliance policies, procedures, systems and training.