European Union (EU) antitrust regulators have prolonged their investigation into Alphabet unit Google’s health tracker maker Fitbit to December 23, the European Fee stated on Wednesday.
The EU competitors enforcer final month kicked off a full-scale probe into the deal, saying Google’s pledge to not use Fitbit’s knowledge for promoting functions was inadequate to handle competitors considerations.
“The Fee prolonged the deadline in settlement with the events,” the EU govt stated in an electronic mail.
Google has stated the mix of its and Fitbit’s {hardware} would increase competitors within the sector the place gamers embody Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei and others.
“Our investigation goals to make sure that management by Google over knowledge collected by wearable units because of the transaction doesn’t distort competitors,” stated European Fee Govt Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, who is also the EU’s competitors commissioner.
Google announced its choice to purchase Fitbit in November 2019 for $2.1 billion (roughly Rs. 15,720 crores). Privateness, social justice and client teams have known as on authorities to dam the deal, citing privateness, and antitrust considerations.
The EU stated the deal may develop Google’s “knowledge benefit” and subsequently increase limitations for rivals to match Google’s internet advertising companies.
“This deal is about units, not knowledge,” stated Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice chairman for units and companies. “We have been clear from the start that we are going to not use Fitbit well being and wellness knowledge for Google adverts,” he wrote in a blog post.
The investigation provides extra scrutiny of the transaction, which Australia’s competition watchdog can also be analyzing. It underscores the lead position EU authorities have taken in international efforts to manage the massive know-how firms.
© Thomson Reuters 2020
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