Google faces EU antitrust probe into Fitbit deal if no concessions

BRUSSELS: Google will face a full-scale EU antitrust investigation into its planned $2.1 billion bid for fitness tracker maker Fitbit unless it offers concessions to address competition concerns, people familiar with the matter said.

The deal allows Google, a unit of Alphabet, to take on Apple and Samsung in the fitness trackers and smart watches market, where other players include Huawei and Xiaomi.

Google could allay competition worries by offering a binding pledge to EU competition enforcers along the lines of its promise last year not to use Fitbit’s health and wellness data for Google ads, the people said.