"We can approve the proposed acquisition of Fitbit by
Google because the commitments will ensure that the market for wearables and
the nascent digital health space will remain open and competitive," EU
competition chief Margrethe Vestager said, in a statement.
"The commitments will determine how Google can use the
data collected for ad purposes, how interoperability between competing
wearables and Android will be safeguarded and how users can continue to share
health and fitness data."
The green light from the European Commission comes after it
conducted an "in-depth" probe into the takeover over concerns that it
would give Google access to users' health details and an unfair market
advantage.
In November last year the tech titan announced it had
reached an agreement to buy Fitbit, which produces wearable fitness trackers
and watches that communicate with a health monitoring app.
The firms said they hoped to conclude the deal by the end of
2020, subject to regulators signing off on it.
The EU said Google had agreed to a raft of commitments for
an initial 10 years to protect personal data and ensure that the acquisition
did not squeeze out other smartwatch manufacturers.
"Google will not use for Google Ads the health and
wellness data collected from wrist-worn wearable devices and other Fitbit
devices," the Commission said.
Further conditions included allowing other manufacturers to
keep accessing Google's Android operating system and any future updates without
it "degrading users experience".
"The Commission concluded that the proposed
transaction, as modified by the commitments, would no longer raise competition
concerns," the statement said.
Google had already promised not to use Fitbit health and
wellness data for Google advertisements, but the acquisition attracted concerns
from consumer groups and competition authorities.
Regulators and competitors feared that Google's own
smartwatch performs a similar function and acquiring Fitbit's user data will
strengthen its already powerful position in targeted advertising.
The approval comes as Google and other tech giants face
growing scrutiny from authorities around the globe over privacy and competition
concerns.
Several US states led by Texas filed a suit against Google
on Wednesday over alleged anti-competitive practices, branding it an
"internet Goliath" that had eliminated competition in online
advertising and was harming consumers.