Open Markets and Eight Other Public Interest Groups Demand FTC Block Google’s Fitbit Acquisition

Washington, D.C. — Ahead of the House Judiciary Committee’s hearing today on the perspectives of the antitrust agencies on tech monopolies, and in light of the news of Google’s undisclosed partnership with one of the largest health care systems in the United States, the Open Markets Institute, the Center for Digital Democracy, Public Citizen, EPIC, along with Commercial-Free Childhood, Consumer Federation of America, Oakland Privacy, Media Alliance, and Consumer Action are demanding that the Federal Trade Commission block Google’s $2.1 billion acquisition of Fitbit. 

As we write in the letter, if this acquisition is approved, Google will further consolidate its monopoly power over Internet-based services. It will increase its already massive store of consumer data, including highly sensitive health and location information.

Google already holds a dominant position in the digital marketplace, health data is critical to the future of that marketplace, and the data protection concerns stemming from the acquisition will have far-reaching consequences including a dramatic erosion of consumer privacy.

Read the full letter here. For more information:

Washington Post: Google will acquire Fitbit for $2.1 billion in direct challenge to Apple

Press Contact: Stella Roque at Open Markets Institute, roque@openmarketsinstitute.org