Aussie Competition Watchdog Worried Google’s Fitbit Deal Could Be Anti-Competitive, Launches Investigation

Fitbit, the market leader in wearable devices. Fitbit via AP

Australia’s competition watchdog has outlined preliminary concerns over Google’s proposed acquisition of FitBit in the United States, saying Google’s access to even more consumer data could “entrench its dominant position” in Australia and influence the advertising and health market.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)’s chairperson Rod Sims said in a statement on June 18, “Our concerns are that Google buying Fitbit will allow Google to build an even more comprehensive set of user data, further cementing its position, and raising barriers to entry to potential rivals.”