Google's $2.1 billion Fitbit deal hits roadblock as EU opens probe
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Saturday
February 04, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2023
Google's $2.1 billion Fitbit deal hits roadblock as EU opens probe

Tech

Reuters
04 August, 2020, 08:25 pm
Last modified: 04 August, 2020, 08:27 pm

Related News

  • Humanitarian aid: EU releases over €43 million for Myanmar and Bangladesh
  • EU lawmakers agree to tougher rules on targeted political ads
  • EU chief arrives in Kyiv, says bloc 'stands by Ukraine'
  • How long will it take Ukraine to join EU?
  • Forget 'autonomy': Europe needs the US as much as ever

Google's $2.1 billion Fitbit deal hits roadblock as EU opens probe

The investigation will also focus on digital healthcare and whether Google would make it difficult for rival wearables to function with its Android smartphone operating system

Reuters
04 August, 2020, 08:25 pm
Last modified: 04 August, 2020, 08:27 pm
FILE PHOTO: Fitbit Blaze watch is seen in front of a displayed Google logo in this illustration picture taken, November 8, 2019. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Fitbit Blaze watch is seen in front of a displayed Google logo in this illustration picture taken, November 8, 2019. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo

The move by the European Commission on Tuesday came despite Google's pledge last month not to use the fitness tracker's data for advertising purposes in a bid to address competition concerns.

The EU antitrust enforcer said the data pledge was insufficient to allay its worries.

"The proposed transaction would further entrench Google's market position in the online advertising markets by increasing the already vast amount of data that Google could use for personalisation of the ads it serves and displays," the Commission said.

It singled out online search and display advertising services and ad tech services, where analytics and digital tools are used in digital advertising, as two areas that would be affected by the deal.

It said data collected via wrist-worn wearable devices appeared to be an important advantage in online advertising, and the deal would give Google an edge in personalising search engine ads and making it difficult for rivals to compete.

Ultimately this would result in higher prices for advertisers and publishers.

The investigation will also focus on digital healthcare and whether Google would make it difficult for rival wearables to function with its Android smartphone operating system.

The Commission will decide by Dec 9 whether to clear or block the deal.

Google said the combination of its and Fitbit's hardware would increase competition in the sector where players include Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi (1810.HK), Huawei [HWT.UL] and others.

"This deal is about devices, not data. We've been clear from the beginning that we will not use Fitbit health and wellness data for Google ads," Rick Osterloh, senior vice president for devices and services, said in a statement.

"As we do with all our products, we will give Fitbit users the choice to review, move or delete their data."

The deal has drawn criticism from healthcare providers, wearables rivals and privacy advocates.

Fitbit has a 3 percent share of the global wearables market as of the first quarter of 2020, far behind Apple's 29.3 percent share, and also trailing Xiaomi, Samsung and Huawei, data from market research firm International Data Corp showed.

Top News / World+Biz

google / Fitbit / deal / EU / probe

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Is the IMF to blame for growing pressure on your wallet?
    Is the IMF to blame for growing pressure on your wallet?
  • Dr Salehuddin Ahmed. Illustration: TBS
    Reforms in banking must to sustain financial sector
  • Why 2012 reforms were not done is a million-dollar question
    Why 2012 reforms were not done is a million-dollar question

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: Collected
    ChatGPT in spotlight as EU's Breton bats for tougher AI rules
  • Photo: Collected
    OpenAI launches ChatGPT subscription plan for $20 per month
  • Photo: Collected
    ChatGPT: the promises, pitfalls and panic
  • Rendered images by DALL-E 2 from the text prompt: “a hydrogen fueled plane, digital art.”
    Could hydrogen-powered aeroplanes be the future of aviation?
  • Illustration: TBS
    AI tools beyond ChatGPT and DALL-E 2
  • Twitter says users will be able to appeal account suspension
    Twitter says users will be able to appeal account suspension

Related News

  • Humanitarian aid: EU releases over €43 million for Myanmar and Bangladesh
  • EU lawmakers agree to tougher rules on targeted political ads
  • EU chief arrives in Kyiv, says bloc 'stands by Ukraine'
  • How long will it take Ukraine to join EU?
  • Forget 'autonomy': Europe needs the US as much as ever

Features

Andy Mukherjee. Sketch: TBS

What makes India's billionaires' support special for Adani

20h | Panorama
Photo: Rejaul Hafiz Rahi

A jackal farewell

20h | Earth
The trio spearheading the revival of book cover designs

The trio spearheading the revival of book cover designs

21h | Panorama
Six Jeep Wranglers and a special XJ Jeep Cherokee set out into the depths of Lalakhal, Sylhet for an experience of a lifetime. Photo: Ahbaar Mohammad

Jeep Life Bangladesh: A club for Jeep owners to harness the power of their vehicles

1d | Wheels

More Videos from TBS

A proper price formula can help investors to plan big

A proper price formula can help investors to plan big

1d | TBS Round Table
Rumors about Sarika that everyone thinks are true

Rumors about Sarika that everyone thinks are true

1d | TBS Entertainment
Mugging rife in Tejgaon, murder in Wari

Mugging rife in Tejgaon, murder in Wari

1d | TBS Current Affairs
What secrets are hidden behind Adani's wealth?

What secrets are hidden behind Adani's wealth?

1d | TBS Stories

Most Read

1
Bapex calls candidates for job test 9 years after advert!
Bangladesh

Bapex calls candidates for job test 9 years after advert!

2
Leepu realised his love for cars from a young age and for the last 40 years, he has transformed, designed and customised hundreds of cars. Photo: Collected
Panorama

'I am not crazy about cars anymore': Nizamuddin Awlia Leepu

3
Photo: Collected
Energy

8 Ctg power plants out of production

4
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo
Economy

IMF approves $4.7 billion loan for Bangladesh, calls for ambitious reforms

5
Photo: Collected
Court

Japanese mother gets guardianship of daughters, free to leave country

6
Fund cut as Dhaka's fast-track transit projects on slow spending lane
Infrastructure

Fund cut as Dhaka's fast-track transit projects on slow spending lane

EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]