Google has way to dodge EU Fitbit probe - sources
Google can avoid an EU probe of its planned takeover of Fitbit.
Reuters sources say Brussels would be satisfied with a pledge not to use Fitbit’s health data to target ads.
The 2.1 billion dollar bid was announced last November.
It would allow Google to take on Apple, Samsung and others in the fitness tracking and smartwatch market.
But the plan has drawn heavy criticism from privacy advocates.
They worry what Google would do with access to Fitbit’s trove of personal health data.
Concerns too about competition.
The European Commission is examining whether the takeover would cement Google’s dominance of online advertising.
Sources say it’s set to trigger a four-month probe of the deal if Google doesn’t offer concessions by Monday (July 13).
But they say the search giant could avert that by offering a binding pledge not to use health data for advertising.
Google has dismissed all the concerns.
It says the deal is about devices, not data, and will only boost competition.
The smart wearables market is currently dominated by Apple, which has an almost 30 percent market share.
