Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#21

Post by lm28469 » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 1:20 PM UTC

bilal4hmed wrote: post #7

"Similar to our other products, with wearables, we will be transparent about the data we collect and why. We will never sell personal information to anyone. Fitbit health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads. And we will give Fitbit users the choice to review, move, or delete their data."

The problem with this kind of statement is that the data will be there forever and all it takes is a "welp he changed our minds" to undo everything.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#22

Post by JumpCrisscross » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 1:20 PM UTC

Changes of control typically trigger a suite of investor and creditor protections. I'm beginning to favor a similar set of rights for consumers.

Right to deletion would be one. Heightened portability requirements another.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#23

Post by jacek » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 1:20 PM UTC

I have not used Fitbit in two years, but just logged in and deleted my account. They state that data is also deleted.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#24

Post by wufufufu » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 1:21 PM UTC

The good news is Fitbit’s health data sucks so Googles not gaining that much.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#25

Post by mattkevan » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 1:22 PM UTC

bilal4hmed wrote: post #7

"Similar to our other products, with wearables, we will be transparent about the data we collect and why. We will never sell personal information to anyone. Fitbit health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads. And we will give Fitbit users the choice to review, move, or delete their data."

> Fitbit health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads

"For now. We'll wait a few years until everyone's forgotten, then launch an amazing new service that just happens to combine health and ads data. What? Hey, it worked for Facebook and WhatsApp."

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#26

Post by taneq » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 1:24 PM UTC

bilal4hmed wrote: post #7

"Similar to our other products, with wearables, we will be transparent about the data we collect and why. We will never sell personal information to anyone. Fitbit health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads. And we will give Fitbit users the choice to review, move, or delete their data."

Well that's pure baloney. They're clear that they may collect data such as and that it may be used in a variety of ways which could include .

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#27

Post by mattkevan » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 1:24 PM UTC

windsurfer wrote: post #15

bilal4hmed wrote: post #7

"Similar to our other products, with wearables, we will be transparent about the data we collect and why. We will never sell personal information to anyone. Fitbit health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads. And we will give Fitbit users the choice to review, move, or delete their data."

Isn't selling your company with the data the same as selling your data?

It's true Google doesn't sell your data: they just rent it out a bit.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#28

Post by partingshots » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 1:24 PM UTC

Fitbit press release: https://investor.fitbit.com/press/press-releases/press-relea...

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#29

Post by taneq » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 1:25 PM UTC

Reminder for anyone who used a Pebble: Your data will have been sold to FitBit and so Google now gets it. Yay!

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#30

Post by caligarn » Fri, Nov 01, 2019, 1:25 PM UTC

Makes sense. Google needs access to our wrists and Fitbit is widely used and a cheap company, relatively speaking. That means they've got the Home, Nest, Fitbit, Phone, Computer, Car...all wrapped up. Now I wonder when are they going to buy a drone company. Oh wait, they did that already with Titan Aerospace and Boston Dynamics (even though the latter is gone). Anyhow, with this all lined up, it sounds like the Google 2020 announcements for 2025 will have watches.