Pressure groups are signing off on Google's $2.1 million bid for health tracking company Fitbit over privacy concerns.
Twenty advocacy groups from the US, Europe, and Latin Americasigned Wednesday's statement urging governments to be cautious about Google's offer.
«Past experience suggests that the government should be very careful with any promises made by the two-member association about limiting data. The government should assume that Google will use all of Fitbit’s hardware, which is mostly sensitive content..»
The list of 20 organizations includes the United States-based Public Citizen , Europe's Access Now , and the Brazilian Consumer Protection Foundation . The organizations say the agreement will expand the company's already significant influence . Among the signatories were organizations in Australia and Canada.
"The deal is about devices, not data. We believe that combining hardware with Fitbit will increase competition in this space," a company spokesperson said, noting that the wearables space is now crowded.
Acquiring Fitbit could give the company very personal information about users, such as how many steps they take in their day, the quality of their sleep , and data about their heart rates.
The company announced its plans for Fitbit last Novemberto get ahead of competitors in the crowded health-tracking and smartwatch market. Of course, Fitbit's stock hasbeen under threat from giants like Apple and Samsung.
Australia's competition authorities recently said they may have concerns about the upcoming Fitbit acquisition deal, and that their final decision will be announced in August.
Europe's antitrust authorities will decide by the end of the month, while in Washington, Google is under antitrust investigation by the Department of Justice.
