Google wants to acquire Fitbit, and we shouldn’t let it!

In November 2019, Google announced their plan to acquire Fitbit, a company that produces and sells health tracking technologies and wearables. This can potentially give Google ever more dominance in online markets at the expense of our rights. Here's why we should all be concerned.

News & Analysis

Post date

13th November 2019

Even if we are not Fitbit users, we all need to stop and think about the implications of this merger. There is a reason that our health data is subject to higher levels of protection - its intimate, reveals vast amounts about our everyday lives, and the potential consequences if exploited can be devastating. Google should be keeping its hands off our health data.
Sign our letter to the European Commission, asking them to block the Google/Fitbit merger.
Let's tell Google, 'NOT ON OUR WATCH!'

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AdTech

Competition and Data

Our campaign

The Google/Fitbit merger - NOT ON OUR WATCH!

Target Profile

Google

What PI is calling for

People must know what data is generated and processed

People must be able to know what data is being generated by devices, the networks and platforms we use, and the infrastructure within which devices become embedded. People should be able to know and ultimately determine the manner of processing.

Press Release: European Commission green lights Google and Fitbit merger in a game-changing and disappointing decision for the rights of millions of Europeans

The European Commission has today concluded its review of Google's proposed acquisition of Fitbit. Privacy International is disappointed that the Commission has decided to let the merger go through, allowing Google's extraordinary power to expand into wearables and sensitive health data.

Long Read

The impact of our public campaign against the proposed Google/Fitbit merger

During summer 2020, over 2,500 people signed PI's public petition opposing the proposed Google/Fitbit merger. We sent the petition to the European Commission, who are yet to decide if the merger can proceed. The Commission responded by thanking petitioners for their concerns and cooperation, just as they opened a detailed phase 2 investigation into the merger.

Explainer

Explainer: Competition, Data and Interoperability in digital markets

Interoperability: what does it mean and why should we care?