#Google wins EU antitrust approval for $2B Fitbit deal

Google won EU antitrust approval on Thursday for its $2.1 billion bid for Fitbit after agreeing to restrictions on how it will use customers’ health-related data.

The deal had triggered criticism from privacy advocates on both sides of the Atlantic, consumer organizations and Google rivals about the company’s market power and the use of people’s health data in targeted advertising.

The European Commission said it had agreed to concessions with Google, valid for 10 years with the possibility of another 10-year extension, addressing competition concerns, confirming a Reuters story in October.

As part of the agreement, Google will store Fitbit user data separately from Google data used for advertising, and will not use data from Fitbit and other wearable devices for Google Ads. Users can decide whether to store their health data in their Google or Fitbit account.

The tech giant will maintain access to users’ health and fitness data to software applications through Fitbit Web API software, without charging for access and subject to user consent.

It will continue to provide a free API software license for core functionalities to Android device makers, allowing their gadgets to function with Android smartphones.

Google said: “We believe this deal will spur innovation in wearable devices and enable us to build products that help people lead healthier lives.”

Fitbit, once the leader in the wearable devices market, has lost market share to Apple, Xiaomi, Samsung and Huawei in recent years.