Google is again facing questions from regulators about its $2.1 billion bid for Fitbit. The biggest sticking point: How will the tech giant use Fitbit’s trove of health data?
Google is staring down the possibility of a sweeping antitrust investigation launched by regulators in the European Union, which would become the latest in a series of probes into the deal. But the tech giant could sidestep that investigation by making a binding pledge not to use Fitbit’s health data for advertising purposes, Reuters reported this week. The deadline for Google to make such a concession is July 13. The European Commission, which is overseeing the probe, is scheduled to make a decision by July 20.
Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has made sizable inroads in health data with a range of applications and products in recent years. Fitbit, for its part, collects a wealth of information from its 30 million users that includes detailed data on sleep and activity levels, heart rate, weight, and location. Giving Google access to that data has raised alarms among regulators, who have voiced concerns about the tech giant’s potential monopoly on wellness information.
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