Google’s purchase of Fitbit will stifle the competition, say consumer groups

Brussels: An international group of consumer groups and NGOs denounced Google’s bid for sports smartwatch-maker Fitbit Thursday, saying it would threaten privacy and grant the search giant unfair access to a new market.

Google’s $2.1 billion acquisition of the maker of smartwatches and fitness trackers was unveiled in November and rang alarm bells among global regulators over antitrust and privacy worries.

Fitbit is a pioneer in the market for connected watches and other physical activity sensors that measure the number of daily steps taken, calories burned or hours of sleep.

A group of 20 NGOs “have significant concerns” that the takeover “would be a game-changer not only for how people interact with the online world but also for digital and related health markets,” a statement said.