Google’s acquisition of Fitbit could pose ‘high level of risk to privacy and data protection’

In a plenary session on February 20, concerns were raised about the privacy implications of a merger of obligations under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPB). The Board urged both firms “to mitigate possible risks to the rights to privacy and data protection before notifying the merger to the European Commission”.It added that the EDPB will “consider any implications for the protection of personal data in the European Economic Area”.  Google and Fitbit did not respond to requests for comments from HIMSS Media. There have been questions around what will happen to Fitbit’s sensitive health and wellness data, since Google announced the acquisition in November last year.UK’s data watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), and the US Department of Justice are both looking into privacy concerns around the deal. In a blog post about the acquisition, Google’s senior vice president of devices and services, Rick Osterloh, reassured consumers that “privacy and security are paramount