Googles $2.1 billion Fitbit deal faces EU antitrust probe, per sources – CNBC

News company MLex was the first to report the imminent EU examination.

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The deal, revealed last November, would see Google contend with market leader Apple and Samsung in the smart-watch and fitness-tracking market, together with others including Huawei and Xiaomi.

The European Commission, which will introduce the probe following the end of its preliminary review on Aug. 4, is anticipated to use the four-month long examination to explore in depth making use of data in healthcare, one of the individuals said.

Source: Amazon

Googles $2.1 billion quote for fitness tracker maker Fitbit will face a full-blown EU antitrust examination next week, individuals acquainted with the matter stated on Thursday.

Googles data pledge has actually drawn criticism from healthcare companies, wearables competitors and privacy supporters for not resolving their concerns that the offer would increase its dominance in the online search market and its trove of information.

The Commission decreased to comment. Google repeated previous remarks, saying the deal has to do with gadgets and not data.

Alphabet unit Google this month offered not to utilize Fitbits health information to assist it target ads in an effort to address EU antitrust issues. The opening of a full-blown examination suggests that this is not enough.

Fitbit Charge 2 Heart Rate & & Physical Fitness Wristband.

“The wearables area is crowded, and we believe the combination of Google and Fitbits hardware efforts will increase competition in the sector, benefiting customers and making the next generation of devices much better and more cost effective,” a spokeswoman stated.