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| Google's acquisition of Fitbit raises European concerns |
Antitrust and consumer rights organizations are taking a closer look at Google’s plan for Fitbit, a portable fitness tracking device manufacturer.
Google acquired Vettebt last year for $ 2.1 billion and hopes to close the deal sometime in 2020.
However, search giants may delay data collection due to improved access to sensitive data on Fitbit devices (including heart rate, fitness activities, and user sleep patterns).
The Financial Times reported that European Union regulators have sent a 60-page survey to competitors from Google and Fitbit asking them to assess the impact of the acquisition on digital health.
Not only did the survey understand how Google uses user data in search and ad queries, but it also asked whether registering a fitness app hosted in the Google Play Store would harm.
The European Union regulator has set the deadline for July 20 to make the next decision on the deal. The European Union can approve the decision, ask Google to compromise on the use of Fitbit data, or conduct a survey to fully investigate the issue. .
The British Financial Times newspaper: The level of detail of the questionnaire sent to competitors suggests that it is possible to start further investigation.
The European Union is not alone when it comes to acquisitions. The Australian Competition Commission (ACCC) raised concerns last month.
"Having Fitbit will allow Google to create a more complete set of user data, enhance its site and block entry to potential competitors," said AIM Chair Rod Sims.
Regulators' concerns coincide with those of consumer protection organizations. Twenty organizations in the United States, the European Union, Mexico, Canada and Brazil said this week that the deal was a test to test how to control data monopolies.
According to the CNET report, Google can use health and location data in Tibet to boost its dominance in digital markets such as online advertising, thereby depriving competitors of their competitiveness.
Google made concessions last year to address these concerns: Fitbit health data is not used for Google ads, and the company has indicated that the transaction is device-related, not data.
The research giant said that mobile activities are very congested and that taking Tibet will increase competition.
Fitbit accounts for less than 5% of the mobile market in 2019, according to IDC market data, while Apple, the largest provider, accounts for 32%.
The following two companies (Xiaomi and Samsung) own 12% and 9% respectively, and none of these companies use Google mobile devices.