Washington, D.C. – The American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement in response to Google’s announcement that it had finalized its $2.1 billion acquisition of Fitbit after a deadline passed for the Department of Justice to object to the deal.

“The Justice Department’s failure to stop Google’s acquisition of Fitbit is not only incoherent and embarrassing, it is also dangerous. This deal poses serious security risks to Fitbit consumers’ personal data,” said Sarah Miller, Executive Director of the American Economic Liberties Project. “Google uses its vast portfolio of internet services to spy on its users and profit off of highly personal information. There is no reason to believe they will not do the same thing with Fitbit.”

“In fact, Google has lied to antitrust enforcers about data before. As a blockbuster antitrust suit against Google explained last month, the company made promises to both the Federal Trade Commission and Congress about how it would manage its acquisition of DoubleClick, which Google then ignored,” added Miller.

“President-elect Biden should ensure his administration acts to reverse this deal as soon as possible,” said Miller. 

###

The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.