Ring recalls 350,000 smart doorbells after some of them catch fire



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The potential fire risk affects about 350,000 2nd Generation Ring Doorbells sold in the United States and about 8,700 more sold in Canada, according to a notice released Tuesday by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The $ 100 doorbells were sold on the Ring website and on Amazon (AMZN) between June 2020 and October 2020, according to the CPSC.

“The video doorbell battery can overheat when incorrect screws are used for installation, posing a fire and burn hazard,” the advisory said.

According to the advisory, Ring has so far received 23 reports of doorbells catching fire and causing property damage, as well as eight reports of minor burns.

Ring did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.

Customers can check if their Ring doorbells are affected by the recall through this link on the company’s support website, by entering the model and serial number printed on the back of the device.
Ring, purchased by Amazon in 2018, has been the subject of controversy in the past. Last year, he announced partnerships with more than 400 police departments across the United States to give law enforcement easier access to videos recorded on his doorbells. The partnerships have allowed police to submit requests for video recordings for certain locations to facilitate active investigations.

But privacy advocates criticized the move, saying at the time that it threatened to create a 24/7 surveillance program.

Most recently, in September, Ring unveiled the Always Home Cam – a $ 250 drone with a connected camera that can automatically fly around your home and stream video to your smartphone.

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