Fitbit to Pay a Hefty Sum Due to User Injuries Caused by its Ionic Smartwatch

Remember the Fitbit Ionic? The ill-fated smartwatch from Google-owned Fitbit was responsible for a massive device recall a couple of years back, following numerous complaints of user injuries due to skin burns while wearing and using the device.

Following this, Fitbit is now mandated to pay a $12.2 million penalty as a result of failing to alert buyers that the Ionic can cause burns due to overheating, according to federal regulators. For those unfamiliar with the case, Fitbit received several reports of overheating from 2018-2020 which prompted the company to release an update to address the issue. However, the problem persisted and Fitbit allegedly did not report the issue as required by law.

Fitbit and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) would eventually issue a recall for the Ionic, and while the device was eventually discontinued in 2020 this wouldn’t be the last time that the company would receive complaints from users regarding injuries. An official statement from Google reads:

Customer safety continues to be our top priority, and we’re pleased to resolve this matter with the CPSC stemming from the 2022 voluntary recall of Fitbit Ionic..

Source: WDEF

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