The Client Product Security Fee has provisionally accepted the settlement. The fee labored with Fitbit to recall 1.7 million Ionic watches in 2022 after receiving 115 studies of overheating batteries. Of these studies, 78 talked about burn accidents, together with two cases wherein shoppers obtained third-degree burns from their watches and 4 cases of second-degree burns. Regardless of complaints all through 2018, 2019, and 2020 — that continued after a firmware replace to handle the difficulty in 2020 — the federal government company says “Fitbit didn’t instantly report back to the Fee as required.”
The recall solely affected Fitbit’s Ionic watches, however some shoppers say different Fitbit units have comparable points. In 2023, shoppers sued Google — which owns Fitbit — claiming that every one its units had battery points that led to overheating, creating fireplace hazards and even burning prospects. The criticism claims that Fitbit tried responsible the watches’ points on “shopper hygiene” and included a number of accounts of Fitbit buyer assist ghosting prospects who requested about points with their watches.
Per the settlement, Fitbit will now be required to keep up inside controls to make sure all its units are compliant with the Client Product Security Act.
