European Union launches in-depth investigation into Google's Fitbit acquisition

European Commission on Tuesday, August 4, anunced an in-depth antitrust investigation into Google's Fitbit acquisition. As per reports, European Union's top antitrust regulator said that it is concerned that takeover would furr boost Google's market status in online advertising by adding to vast amount of data that Google could use to push targetted ads. 

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$2.1 billion deal

According to reports, Google anunced that it was acquiring Fitbit, world's leading maker of wearable fitness activity trackers, in vember. deal was locked at $2.1 billion and considered to be one of Google's largest acquisitions in smartwatches and wearable devices.

EU had previously launched a preliminary probe into transaction to see if deal would allow Google to drive rival manufactures of wearable devices, app developers, and or online service providers out of business. As per reports, Commission's top antitrust official, Margre Vestr, said that ir investigation aims to ensure that Google t using Fitbit health and wellness data for its own ads. 

READ: Google's Acquisition Of Fitbit Under Scrutiny By EU Regulators

As per reports, EU regulators are concerned that that entirety of Fitbit’s data about its users -- such as health status, location, heart rate and calorie burned -- will expand Alphabet Inc. owned tech giant's market dominance and mopoly.

Meanwhile, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) too has been wary of deal and has launched its own investigation as per international media reports. Much like EU regulators, ACCC is concerned about long term affects this deal could have on digital marketing and health markets.

ACCC chair Rod Sims has claimed that Fitbit has been garing user’s health data for almost a decade w and that this deal will allow Google to get a more comprehensive set of user data, as reported. As per ACCC, Google’s mopoly lies in its vast search and location data as well as background data it has collected through third-party apps.

READ: Google's Fitbit Acquisition In Massive $2.1 Billion Deal Under European Union Probe

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Im: AP