Google gets EU approval for €1.7bn Fitbit bid amid tech crackdown

Smaller rivals previously complained that the company’s promises might not go far enough to stop Google shutting off access in future to rival products or services

Google announced its plans to buy Fitbit in November 2019, describing the bid for the smartwatch maker as a boost to its lagging hardware business. 

Google won EU approval for its $2.1bn (€1.7bn) takeover of health tracker Fitbit, days after regulators proposed tougher rules to curb powerful technology firms’ push into new services.

The European Commission said Google’s pledge to maintain access for rival health and fitness apps and device makers for 10 years removed its concerns about the US tech giant’s move into health data and devices.