EU sets deadline for Google-Fitbit merger

According to a Reuters report, the European Commission set a deadline of 20 July 2020 to decide whether Google’s proposal to acquire Fitbit is in line with antitrust regulations. Consumer groups, such as the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), as well as privacy advocates, sounded alarms about the deal. The reviewers are expected to focus on how Google plans to use a variety of health data (e.g. daily steps, calories burned, and distance travelled) generated from Fitbit devices. Through the proposed acquisition, Google would be able to compete with Apple and Samsung on the markets for fitness trackers and smart watches.