Google and Fitbit are merging to create a new health database on all of us
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/05/stopping-google-fitbit-merger-your-stories-needed
#Google #fitbit #merge #health #bt #bluetooth
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/05/stopping-google-fitbit-merger-your-stories-needed
#Google #fitbit #merge #health #bt #bluetooth
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Stopping the Google-Fitbit Merger: Your Stories Needed!
There's a dirty secret in the incredible growth of Silicon Valley's tech giants: it's a cheat. Historically, US antitrust regulators would be deeply concerned about mergers with major competitors in
Australian regulator says Google's $2.1 billion Fitbit deal could harm competition
Australia’s antitrust regulator warned Google’s planned $2.1 billion acquisition of fitness tracker maker Fitbit (FIT.N) may give it too much of people’s data, potentially hurting competition in health and online advertising markets.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is the first regulator to voice concerns about the deal in a preliminary decision on Thursday. The Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O)-owned tech giant is already at loggerheads with the Australian government over planned new rules about how internet companies use personal information.
“Buying Fitbit will allow Google to build an even more comprehensive set of user data, further cementing its position and raising barriers to entry to potential rivals,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said on Thursday. “User data available to Google has made it so valuable to advertisers that it faces only limited competition.”
The ACCC, which does not generally have the power to block a deal outside Australia, will announce its final decision on August 13. In previous takeovers, it has ordered certain conditions such as asset sales.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-fitbit-m-a-alphabet/australian-regulator-says-googles-2-1-billion-fitbit-deal-could-harm-competition-idUSKBN23P032?il=0
#google #fitbit
Australia’s antitrust regulator warned Google’s planned $2.1 billion acquisition of fitness tracker maker Fitbit (FIT.N) may give it too much of people’s data, potentially hurting competition in health and online advertising markets.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is the first regulator to voice concerns about the deal in a preliminary decision on Thursday. The Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O)-owned tech giant is already at loggerheads with the Australian government over planned new rules about how internet companies use personal information.
“Buying Fitbit will allow Google to build an even more comprehensive set of user data, further cementing its position and raising barriers to entry to potential rivals,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said on Thursday. “User data available to Google has made it so valuable to advertisers that it faces only limited competition.”
The ACCC, which does not generally have the power to block a deal outside Australia, will announce its final decision on August 13. In previous takeovers, it has ordered certain conditions such as asset sales.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-fitbit-m-a-alphabet/australian-regulator-says-googles-2-1-billion-fitbit-deal-could-harm-competition-idUSKBN23P032?il=0
#google #fitbit
Reuters
Australian regulator says Google's $2.1 billion Fitbit deal could harm competition
SYDNEY/BENGALURU (Reuters) - Australia’s antitrust regulator warned Google’s planned $2.1 billion acquisition of fitness tracker maker Fitbit (FIT.N) may give it too much of people’s data, potentially hurting competition in health and online advertising markets.
Forwarded from BlackBox (Security) Archiv
When Google listens to you breathe
The world's largest data company could soon gain access to millions of fitness trackers by purchasing Fitbit. The NGO Privacy International explains why it wants to prevent this.
How much does Google know about us? In other words: Is there anything that Google doesn't know about us? Through our searches on Google and YouTube, the company knows our interests. It potentially knows what we think. And through applications like Google Maps, it may even know where we are at all times.
On 15 June, the Google Group informed the European Commission of its plan to acquire Fitbit, a manufacturer of smart watches and fitness trackers. The Commission now has until 20 July to examine the transaction.
Google buys health data treasure
The planned acquisition of Fitbit could give Google access to health data of millions of people. The processing of sensitive data is strictly regulated by EU law - actually. The takeover could violate the rights of billions of people, although many of them have never heard of Fitbit.
Fitbit's products range from simple pedometers to devices that record calorie consumption, breathing and heart rate. Fitness data provides detailed analysis of, for example, sleep patterns, and the devices also allow users to know if they are menstruating or have had unprotected sex. A large part of Fitbit's value lies in this health data.
In the past, Fitbit has constantly expanded its database through new acquisitions. The company has also recently entered into lucrative partnerships with health insurance companies.
💡 Read more 🇬🇧 🇩🇪:
https://www.privacyinternational.org/news-analysis/3962/pass-notes-proposed-google-fitbit-merger
https://netzpolitik.org/2020/fitbit-uebernahme-wenn-dir-google-beim-atmen-zuhoert/
👉🏼 BLOCK THE GOOGLE/FITBIT MERGER!
https://action.privacyinternational.org/civicrm/petition/sign?sid=7&reset=1
#google #DeleteGoogle #Fitbit #healthdata #Datenschutz #ourdata #thinkabout
📡@cRyPtHoN_INFOSEC_DE
📡@cRyPtHoN_INFOSEC_EN
📡@NoGoolag
📡@BlackBox
The world's largest data company could soon gain access to millions of fitness trackers by purchasing Fitbit. The NGO Privacy International explains why it wants to prevent this.
How much does Google know about us? In other words: Is there anything that Google doesn't know about us? Through our searches on Google and YouTube, the company knows our interests. It potentially knows what we think. And through applications like Google Maps, it may even know where we are at all times.
On 15 June, the Google Group informed the European Commission of its plan to acquire Fitbit, a manufacturer of smart watches and fitness trackers. The Commission now has until 20 July to examine the transaction.
Google buys health data treasure
The planned acquisition of Fitbit could give Google access to health data of millions of people. The processing of sensitive data is strictly regulated by EU law - actually. The takeover could violate the rights of billions of people, although many of them have never heard of Fitbit.
Fitbit's products range from simple pedometers to devices that record calorie consumption, breathing and heart rate. Fitness data provides detailed analysis of, for example, sleep patterns, and the devices also allow users to know if they are menstruating or have had unprotected sex. A large part of Fitbit's value lies in this health data.
In the past, Fitbit has constantly expanded its database through new acquisitions. The company has also recently entered into lucrative partnerships with health insurance companies.
💡 Read more 🇬🇧 🇩🇪:
https://www.privacyinternational.org/news-analysis/3962/pass-notes-proposed-google-fitbit-merger
https://netzpolitik.org/2020/fitbit-uebernahme-wenn-dir-google-beim-atmen-zuhoert/
👉🏼 BLOCK THE GOOGLE/FITBIT MERGER!
https://action.privacyinternational.org/civicrm/petition/sign?sid=7&reset=1
#google #DeleteGoogle #Fitbit #healthdata #Datenschutz #ourdata #thinkabout
📡@cRyPtHoN_INFOSEC_DE
📡@cRyPtHoN_INFOSEC_EN
📡@NoGoolag
📡@BlackBox
Privacy International
Pass Notes on the proposed Google / Fitbit merger
Name: Google/Fitbit mergerAge: Gestating
Forwarded from BlackBox (Security) Archiv
Google offers data pledge in bid to win EU okay for Fitbit buy
Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google has offered not to use health data of fitness tracker company Fitbit to help it target ads in an attempt to address EU antitrust concerns about its proposed $2.1 billion acquisition, the U.S. tech company said late on Monday.
The bid, announced in November last year, would help Google take on market leader Apple (AAPL.O) and Samsung (005930.KS) in the fitness-tracking and smart-watch market, alongside others including Huawei [HWT.UL] and Xiaomi (1810.HK).
“This deal is about devices, not data. We appreciate the opportunity to work with the European Commission on an approach that safeguards consumers’ expectations that Fitbit device data won’t be used for advertising,” Google said in an emailed statement.
Reuters reported last week that such a data pledge may likely help Google secure EU approval for the deal.
With just 3% of the global wearables market as of the first quarter of 2020, Fitbit is far behind Apple’s 29.3% share and also trails Xiaomi, Samsung and Huawei, according to data from market research firm International Data Corp.
👀 👉🏼 When Google listens to you breathe
https://t.me/BlackBox_Archiv/1003
👀 👉🏼 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-fitbit-m-a-alphabet-eu-exclusive-idUSKCN24E2X5?taid=5f0cf7d82841fc000146e530
#google #DeleteGoogle #Fitbit #healthdata #advertising #ourdata #thinkabout
📡@cRyPtHoN_INFOSEC_DE
📡@cRyPtHoN_INFOSEC_EN
📡@BlackBox_Archiv
📡@NoGoolag
Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google has offered not to use health data of fitness tracker company Fitbit to help it target ads in an attempt to address EU antitrust concerns about its proposed $2.1 billion acquisition, the U.S. tech company said late on Monday.
The bid, announced in November last year, would help Google take on market leader Apple (AAPL.O) and Samsung (005930.KS) in the fitness-tracking and smart-watch market, alongside others including Huawei [HWT.UL] and Xiaomi (1810.HK).
“This deal is about devices, not data. We appreciate the opportunity to work with the European Commission on an approach that safeguards consumers’ expectations that Fitbit device data won’t be used for advertising,” Google said in an emailed statement.
Reuters reported last week that such a data pledge may likely help Google secure EU approval for the deal.
With just 3% of the global wearables market as of the first quarter of 2020, Fitbit is far behind Apple’s 29.3% share and also trails Xiaomi, Samsung and Huawei, according to data from market research firm International Data Corp.
👀 👉🏼 When Google listens to you breathe
https://t.me/BlackBox_Archiv/1003
👀 👉🏼 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-fitbit-m-a-alphabet-eu-exclusive-idUSKCN24E2X5?taid=5f0cf7d82841fc000146e530
#google #DeleteGoogle #Fitbit #healthdata #advertising #ourdata #thinkabout
📡@cRyPtHoN_INFOSEC_DE
📡@cRyPtHoN_INFOSEC_EN
📡@BlackBox_Archiv
📡@NoGoolag
Telegram
BlackBox (Security) Archiv
When Google listens to you breathe
The world's largest data company could soon gain access to millions of fitness trackers by purchasing Fitbit. The NGO Privacy International explains why it wants to prevent this.
How much does Google know about us? In…
The world's largest data company could soon gain access to millions of fitness trackers by purchasing Fitbit. The NGO Privacy International explains why it wants to prevent this.
How much does Google know about us? In…
Our health is all we have. But now Google wants it too
The EU probe of the search engine’s deal for Fitbit is a harbinger of a future in which Big Tech is central to healthcare
Healthcare is going to be one of the biggest corporate battlegrounds of the next 20 years.
In the UK, public and private health spending already accounts for 10% of national income (GDP). In the US, health spending eats up around 17% of the economic pie. As the last of the baby boomers settle into retirement by 2030, those figures are expected to rise by at least half and, if social care is added, possibly double by 2040.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/aug/01/health-data-google-wants-it-all-fitbit-deal-big-tech
#europe #eu #google #fitbit #health #data
The EU probe of the search engine’s deal for Fitbit is a harbinger of a future in which Big Tech is central to healthcare
Healthcare is going to be one of the biggest corporate battlegrounds of the next 20 years.
In the UK, public and private health spending already accounts for 10% of national income (GDP). In the US, health spending eats up around 17% of the economic pie. As the last of the baby boomers settle into retirement by 2030, those figures are expected to rise by at least half and, if social care is added, possibly double by 2040.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/aug/01/health-data-google-wants-it-all-fitbit-deal-big-tech
#europe #eu #google #fitbit #health #data
the Guardian
Our health is all we have. But now Google wants it too
The EU probe of the search engine’s deal for Fitbit is a harbinger of a future in which Big Tech is central to healthcare
EU launches investigation into Google's $2bn purchase of Fitbit and could block deal
The European Union will launch an in-depth investigation into the Google's $2.1 billion acquisition of Fitbit and could block the deal entirely, it has said.
It warned that the data collected through wearable devices will be key in the future, and that Google having access to such precise information about users' health and other activity could be used to unfairly boost its other businesses.
The EU's executive commission said it is concerned that the deal would entrench Google's position in the online ad market by "increasing the already vast amount of data" that the company could use to personalise ads.
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/google-fitbit-eu-acquisition-antitrust-online-ads-a9653226.html
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_1446
#eu #europe #google #fitbit
The European Union will launch an in-depth investigation into the Google's $2.1 billion acquisition of Fitbit and could block the deal entirely, it has said.
It warned that the data collected through wearable devices will be key in the future, and that Google having access to such precise information about users' health and other activity could be used to unfairly boost its other businesses.
The EU's executive commission said it is concerned that the deal would entrench Google's position in the online ad market by "increasing the already vast amount of data" that the company could use to personalise ads.
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/google-fitbit-eu-acquisition-antitrust-online-ads-a9653226.html
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_1446
#eu #europe #google #fitbit
‘Not On Our Watch’: A public campaign against Google’s jump into our health data
Monopolies, mergers and acquisitions, anti-trust laws. These may seem like tangential or irrelevant issues for privacy and digital rights organisations. But having run our first public petition opposing a big tech merger, we wanted to set out why we think this is an important frontier for people's rights across Europe and indeed across the world.
In June, Google notified the European Commission of its intention to acquire Fitbit, the health and fitness tracker company. Google’s stated mission is to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” ‘Organize’ sounds so benign, just administrative, so tidy. But Google can only organise the world’s information by first aggressively getting its hands on the world’s information, whether we really want to give them that information or not. And nothing is more personal than our health data so this would be a game-changing acquisition. Because of how Google could potentially combine our health data with so much other data it already has about us, we were concerned that Google would use the merger to become an unassailable leader in the health and fitness monitoring market.
The merger triggered reactions among civil society organisations, and Privacy International (PI) was a signatory to a common statement sent to the European Commission, coordinated by BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation.
https://edri.org/our-work/not-on-our-watch-a-public-campaign-against-googles-jump-into-our-health-data/
#Europe #EU #google #fitbit #privacy
Monopolies, mergers and acquisitions, anti-trust laws. These may seem like tangential or irrelevant issues for privacy and digital rights organisations. But having run our first public petition opposing a big tech merger, we wanted to set out why we think this is an important frontier for people's rights across Europe and indeed across the world.
In June, Google notified the European Commission of its intention to acquire Fitbit, the health and fitness tracker company. Google’s stated mission is to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” ‘Organize’ sounds so benign, just administrative, so tidy. But Google can only organise the world’s information by first aggressively getting its hands on the world’s information, whether we really want to give them that information or not. And nothing is more personal than our health data so this would be a game-changing acquisition. Because of how Google could potentially combine our health data with so much other data it already has about us, we were concerned that Google would use the merger to become an unassailable leader in the health and fitness monitoring market.
The merger triggered reactions among civil society organisations, and Privacy International (PI) was a signatory to a common statement sent to the European Commission, coordinated by BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation.
https://edri.org/our-work/not-on-our-watch-a-public-campaign-against-googles-jump-into-our-health-data/
#Europe #EU #google #fitbit #privacy