It was n’t too long ago that Google herald it had plunked down$2.1 billion to evolve Fitbit . While the news was welcomed by some , many others raised the question of what would happen with all that health information Fitbit had collected . you could count the European Data Protection Board among the latter . At its eighteenth plenary academic term , the advisory boardreleased a statementexpressing concern that the acquisition present a major privacy risk .
https://gizmodo.com/what-to-buy-instead-of-a-fitbit-1840068827
In the statement , the EDPB is also keen to point out that the Google - Fitbit merger must abide by with the European Union ’s General Data Protection Regulation ( GDPR ) . “ The Board urges the parties to mitigate potential hazard to the right to privacy and data protection before notifying the merger to the European Commission , ” the consultatory consistence added . “ The EDPB will take any implications for the security of personal data in the EEA and stands ready to lend its advice to the EC if so bespeak .
Photo: Alex Cranz (Gizmodo)
There ’s serious reason for the EDPB to be sceptical of the Google - Fitbit deal . For newbie , Google , along with Facebook , wasfound to be in violation of GDPRthe first day the natural law derive into effect . Last yr , France fin Google $ 57 millionfor its opaque privacy terms . In the U.S. , the great deal is alsofacing examination from the Department of Justice . Not to cite , Google is presently facingnumerousantitrustinquiries .
It ’s also worth noting that the data in question is not just your steps , nitty-gritty rate , eternal sleep , and cosmopolitan activity . It also includes procreative health , including intimate encounters and whether or not protective cover was used . Plus , Fitbit is collecting information that you might not even know in preparation for future lineament down the argument . For instance , back in 2017 , Fitbit introduced Sp02 sensors into itsIonic smartwatch — and , has include them in subsequent tracker like theVersaandCharge 3 . While Fitbit kept mamma about what it was tracking , it was an open secret that the company was concerned insleep apnea . Well today , the society rolled out a new ‘ Estimated Oxygen Variation ’ graph to all Charge 3 , Versa , Versa Lite , Versa 2 , and Ionic users to avail them valuate blood oxygen intensity while they log Z’s . Barring regulatory body step in and shut down this uniting , this just a cut of what Google ’s actually buying .
Both Google and Fitbit are cognizant of the privateness concerns . In itsoriginal blogpost announce the attainment , Google pen that “ We will be transparent about the data we collect and why . We will never sell personal information to anyone . Fitbit wellness and wellness data will not be used for Google ads . And we will give Fitbit users the option to review , move , or erase their data . ” These sentiments were repeat by Fitbit’scorresponding press vent .
Whether this pans out to be true , however , is another narrative . AsI’ve drop a line antecedently , Nest enjoin the same thing when Google acquired it . It took five prospicient years , but lo and behold , Google is now requiring Nest users tomigrate their accountsand any undefined promises of users owning their data are disputable . For now , it ’s a game of wait - and - see as to whether regulators will step in and intervene , or if Google prevails allot to plan .
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