In today’s web-driven era where every gadget is interconnected via IoT (Internet of things), it is indeed quite difficult to manage an individual’s privacy. Be it a smartphone or a laptop, smartwatch or a tablet- we are surrounded with gadgets and the relevant massive data they generate. On one hand, there is an issue of managing that data, and on the other, there are data protection and privacy issues. In the meanwhile, tech giants are continuing to take over the peripheral firms to harness the power of ‘data’ and further broaden their customer base. In this continuum, right after the acquisition of wearables conglomerate Fitbit, Google seems to increase its homework in terms of safeguarding its new customer’s data and their privacy. If not by choice, then at least by the orders of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB). EDPB has ordered Google to conduct a “full assessment of the data protection requirements and privacy implications” in context to its acquisition of Fitbit.
At the plenary session on 20 February, the concerns regarding the privacy consequences were raised of a merger of mndates under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Board appealed both the companies to “mitigate possible risks to privacy and data protection before notifying the European Commission of the merger.” The EDPB further added, “We will consider the impact for the protection of personal data in the European Economic Area.” Google and Fitbit did not respond to HIMSS Media’s request for comment. As far as the need for such a regulatory action is concerned, the rising cases of data breaches and cyber attacks have pushed the judiciaries to order the tech giant Google to reconsider their policies. Moreover, Google is worldwide known for its transparency and a define protocol which again makes it the immediate need of the hour to further continue that business ethics. All in all, the privacy risk and data protection of the customers is kept at supreme priority which is supposed to be continued by this further step.
