Thursday, October 23, 2025
  • Hype
  • Murai
  • Lipstiq
  • Miss Murai
  • Varnam
  • Moviedash
  • Autofreaks
Lowyat.NET
  • News
    • Lifestyle
    • Computing
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • Rumours & Leaks
    • Software
  • Forums
    • Kopitiam
    • Tradezone
    • Property Talk
    • Finance & Business
    • Fast and Furious
  • Gaming
    • PC Gaming
    • Console
    • Esports
  • Mobile
    • Apps
    • OS
    • Tablets
    • Phones
    • Telco
      • Celcom
      • DiGi
      • Maxis
      • Tune Talk
      • U Mobile
      • Buzzme
  • Pricelists
    • Compu-zoneUpdated
    • ViewnetUpdated
    • Sri ComputersUpdated
    • StartecUpdated
  • More
    • Automotive Tech
    • Drone
    • Enterprise
    • Entertainment
    • Fashion
    • E-Hailing
    • Wearables
No Result
View All Result
Lowyat.NET
  • News
    • Lifestyle
    • Computing
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • Rumours & Leaks
    • Software
  • Forums
    • Kopitiam
    • Tradezone
    • Property Talk
    • Finance & Business
    • Fast and Furious
  • Gaming
    • PC Gaming
    • Console
    • Esports
  • Mobile
    • Apps
    • OS
    • Tablets
    • Phones
    • Telco
      • Celcom
      • DiGi
      • Maxis
      • Tune Talk
      • U Mobile
      • Buzzme
  • Pricelists
    • Compu-zoneUpdated
    • ViewnetUpdated
    • Sri ComputersUpdated
    • StartecUpdated
  • More
    • Automotive Tech
    • Drone
    • Enterprise
    • Entertainment
    • Fashion
    • E-Hailing
    • Wearables
No Result
View All Result
Lowyat.NET
No Result
View All Result
Home Mobile Phones Android Phones

Google Completes Acquisition Of Fitbit Amid Privacy Concerns

by Sebastian Loh
January 15, 2021
Google
58
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Google has completed its acquisition of smartwatch maker Fitbit, the tech giant announced on Thursday. Government regulators and privacy advocates on both sides of the Atlantic had raised concern over the privacy implications of the deal – namely, how Google intends to use the massive amounts of user data gathered through Fitbit devices, and whether it would harm market competition.

In November 2019, Google took ownership of the aforementioned maker of smartwatches with health-tracking capabilities for US$2.1 billion. On Thursday, both Google and Fitbit reiterated that they would strive to protect the privacy of users.

Google Senior Vice President of Devices and Services Rick Osterloh declared, “This deal has always been about devices, not data, and we’ve been clear since the beginning that we will protect Fitbit users’ privacy. We worked with global regulators on an approach which safeguards consumers’ privacy expectations, including a series of binding commitments that confirm Fitbit users’ health and wellness data won’t be used for Google ads and this data will be separated from other Google ads data.”

Fitbit Issues Global Recall Sense Smartwatch ECG

In addition to storing user and advertising data in separate silos, Google is also committed to maintaining third-party access to the Fitbit platform, and promised not to degrade the user experience of third-party smartwatches paired with Android phones. It should be said that, these commitments were necessary to win European Union (European Commission) approval of the acquisition.

Privacy advocates may remain unconvinced though. The BBC noted that Google’s DeepMind team previously collected data on 1.6 million UK patients without informing them. While DeepMind promised that the information would never be shared with Google, it was eventually integrated into the latter’s plans to create an AI-powered assistant for nurses and doctors around the world.

ALSO READ:  Leaked Pixel 10 Pro, Pro XL Specs Reveal Few Upgrades

This is certainly food for thought as app users are increasingly turning more conscious, outspoken, and passionate about protecting their privacy. Only recently, we saw throngs of users ditch messaging app Whatsapp over its decision to share user data with parent company Facebook.

(Source: Google, BBC News)

Filed Under acquisitionFitbitGooglePrivacysmartwatches
Updated 5:55 pm, Fri, 15 January 21
http://lowy.at/abhcw
Share23Tweet15SendShare

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. 

No Result
View All Result

TRENDING THIS WEEK

  1. 1
    Electric Vehicles

    Lepas Set For Malaysian Debut In 2026

  2. 2
    Automotive

    smart #5 EV Now Open For Booking In Malaysia

  3. 3
    Mobile Phones

    nubia Air Lands in Malaysia; Price Starts From RM1,099

  4. 4
    Transportation

    PDRM Announces Dry Run For 47th ASEAN Summit Motorcade From 17 To 24 October

  5. 5
    News

    47th ASEAN Summit: Major Road Closures In KL From 26 to 28 October 2025

NETWORK

  • Hype
  • Murai
  • Lipstiq
  • Miss Murai
  • Varnam
  • Moviedash
  • Autofreaks

ABOUT

  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Privacy Statement
  • Contact Us
  • Editorial Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

©2025 VIJANDREN RAMADASS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Lifestyle
    • Computing
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • Rumours & Leaks
    • Software
  • Forums
    • Kopitiam
    • Tradezone
    • Property Talk
    • Finance & Business
    • Fast and Furious
  • Gaming
    • PC Gaming
    • Console
    • Esports
  • Mobile
    • Apps
    • OS
    • Tablets
    • Phones
    • Telco
      • Celcom
      • DiGi
      • Maxis
      • Tune Talk
      • U Mobile
      • Buzzme
  • Pricelists
    • Compu-zone
    • Viewnet
    • Sri Computers
    • Startec
  • More
    • Automotive Tech
    • Drone
    • Enterprise
    • Entertainment
    • Fashion
    • E-Hailing
    • Wearables

©2025 VIJANDREN RAMADASS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Lifestyle
    • Computing
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • Rumours & Leaks
    • Software
  • Forums
    • Kopitiam
    • Tradezone
    • Property Talk
    • Finance & Business
    • Fast and Furious
  • Gaming
    • PC Gaming
    • Console
    • Esports
  • Mobile
    • Apps
    • OS
    • Tablets
    • Phones
    • Telco
      • Celcom
      • DiGi
      • Maxis
      • Tune Talk
      • U Mobile
      • Buzzme
  • Pricelists
    • Compu-zone
    • Viewnet
    • Sri Computers
    • Startec
  • More
    • Automotive Tech
    • Drone
    • Enterprise
    • Entertainment
    • Fashion
    • E-Hailing
    • Wearables

©2025 VIJANDREN RAMADASS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.