Ring doorbells recalled over fire threat

Amazon -owned Ring devices have long been under scrutiny of privacy advocates. Now the brand is dealing with another issue entirely, as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has posted a recall notice for its second-generation doorbell. Some 350,000 units in the U.S. and 8,700 in Canada are being recalled over fire and burn concerns. The devices were on sale through Amazon's sites and retail locations.

The recall comes in the wake of 23 reports of fire and eight reports of minor burns related to the model. According to the CPSC, the issue relates specifically to the use of incorrect screws during the smart doorbell's installation. Ring says the issue should not impact users, so long as they only use the screws included with the system. Incorrect use, on the other hand, could directly damage the doorbell's battery, leading to the aforementioned issue, which, in turn, can cause bodily harm or property damage.

The safety of our customers is our top priority," a spokesperson tells TechCrunch. We have and continue to work cooperatively with the CPSC on this issue, and have contacted customers who purchased a Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) to ensure they received the updated user manual and follow the device installation instructions. Customers do not need to return their devices."

The commission's site lists the specific details for units impacted by the news and adds that Amazon is voluntarily conducting the recall. Per the CPSC, Consumers should immediately stop installing the recalled video doorbells and contact Ring for revised installation instructions."

After purchasing Ring in 2018, the brand has been a source of controversy for both privacy and security concerns. In September, the company promised to add end-to-end encryption for videos captured with the devices.

Ring to offer opt-in end-to-end encryption for videos beginning later this year