After Tablet Battery Ignites Backpack, Blumenthal Calls on Lenovo to Respond to Safety Concerns

(HARTFORD, CT) – Following reports that a school-provided Lenovo Tablet 10e lit a fire and burned through the backpack of a Bristol Public School student, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) has written a letter to Lenovo Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Yang Yuanqing urging the company to take swift action to ensure that devices used for remote learning are safe and that schools are provided with timely information to guarantee that potentially hazardous products are removed from student’s homes.

“In a laudable and innovative effort to support students, the Bristol school district distributed the Lenovo Tablet 10e to pre-kindergarten through third grade students. Safe and effective computers and tablets are imperative to ensure that students, particularly within this young age group, do not fall behind in their education. Regrettably, alarming and unanswered concerns about the safety of these devices have now put those much-needed plans on hold,” wrote Blumenthal.

Following the incident, Bristol Public Schools urged parents to turn off and return the devices to school as well as reported the incident to Lenovo. The school system has yet to receive a response from Lenovo.

“While families across the country are working hard to stay safe and adjust to the challenges of virtual learning, the last thing they need is dangerous and defective equipment in their homes that puts their loved ones at risk,” Blumenthal continued.

Blumenthal is demanding a comprehensive investigation into the cause of this incident and has asked for answers to the following questions:

1. How many Lenovo Tablet 10e devices are in circulation? How many have been distributed to schools? Where are the schools located?
2. Is Lenovo aware of any other similar incidents related to the Lenovo Tablet 10e? Is Lenovo aware of any recent reports of its tablets and other similar products starting a fire, aside from the Tablet 10e model?
3. What steps is Lenovo taking to ensure that no other similar incidents occur? Is Lenovo conducting an investigation of this incident and when should consumers expect that investigation will produce answers?
4. What information has been provided to schools about this incident and what recommendations has Lenovo provided to schools about the safety and use of the Tablet 10e?
5. Does Lenovo commit to recalling and replacing all products if they are found to be defective?
6. What best practices should schools and families be taking regarding the handling of the Lenovo Tablet 10e until the cause of the fire is found?

To ensure the safety of students in Connecticut, Blumenthal has asked the company for a response by November 3, 2020.

The full letter can be found here.

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