Fitbit fined US$12M for failure to report burns caused by smartwatches

The ticker symbol for Fitbit is displayed at the post where it is traded on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., February 23, 2016.

Google’s Fitbit, the wireless wearable technology, has been fined US$12.25 million to settle charges after the company failed to report a defect that could cause burns, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced.

In March 2022, Health Canada and the CPSC, in joint efforts with Fitbit, recalled the Ionic smartwatches after 115 reports in the U.S. said the watches overheated and 78 reported burn injuries.

The U.S. recall notice said two reports included third-degree burns and four were for second-degree burns.

Health Canada said more than 70,000 watches were sold in Canada over a three-year period and about one million watches were sold in the U.S.

The California-based company has agreed to pay a fine for failing to immediately report to the CPSC as required by the law that its Ionic smartwatches have a defect and could create injuries, the CPSC said.

In early 2020, Fitbit launched an update to mitigate the potential of the battery overheating the CPSC said. However, Fitbit continued to receive reports.

In addition to the fine, Fitbit must also submit an annual report of internal controls and procedures that comply with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). The CPSC said it accepted the settlement.