With thePixel Watchlooming around the corner , folks have been wondering what ’s going on with Fitbit now that Google ’s formally develop the brand . According to an updatedsupport page , it appears there ’s account statement consolidation on the celestial horizon .
Next year , Google will require a Google account to use some of Fitbit ’s features . “ We be after to enable use of Fitbit with a Google accounting sometime in 2023 , ” explain Google . For now , you ’ll still demand a Fitbit account to set up a unexampled gimmick .
If you want to link your Google news report when the option launches next year , you ’ll have to consent to reassign Fitbit datum from one report to the other . After that , you could continue to use your existing Fitbit account for as long as Google support it , up to “ at least early 2025 . ” Regardless , after 2025 , that Google login will be required unless you want your watch to be a hunk of rubble . Google says it will allow for additional data nearer to the launch of Google accounts on Fitbit .
What will happen to the data in your Fitbit account after Google officially takes over?Photo: Victoria Song / Gizmodo
The company cites several benefit for this move : single login for Fitbit and Google services , “ diligence - run account security measures , ” “ centralized privacy controls for Fitbit data , ” and “ access to extra Google feature article ” on Fitbit . But it does n’t excuse what users can await after 2025 , only that “ a Google account will be command to use Fitbit . ”
Of course , this raises a few ruddy iris for folks who are n’t too keen on connect their fittingness data with Google ’s ecosystem . Google call to “ protect Fitbit customer ’ privacy ” in Europe as per a former agreement , but it ’s an open doubtfulness as to how long it will keep the data disjoined after someone cause the switch or if it will use any datum it collects for purpose other than advertising while it ’s still running out the clock on its agreement . Its compliance withEU regulationsonly extends to ten years , after which the commission can adjudicate whether to reestablish it .
After that , would users still have the separation of physical fitness data and the information used to serve ads to them on the Android political platform ? And what about current Google and Fitbit accounts in the U.S. , which are n’t under the same data protections ?
When I make out to Google to demand for answer to the above questions , I received the same resolution it gave other outlets . “ Google accounts on Fitbit will continue in full conformation with our commitments to global regulators . After a user augury up for or moves to a Google account , we will proceed to keep Fitbit user ’ health and wellness information split from Google Ads data point and this datum wo n’t be used for Google Ads . ” There ’s no quotation if this will extend beyond the ten - year timeline .
This will probably become a hotter topic once the Pixel Watch officially launch . There are apparentleaksof Fitbit branding on the box , which guide us to believe it ’ll be a grownup part of this product launching .
I have n’t used Fitbit in years , so I checked out the current login site . I had to readjust my password to get in . There ’s already a Google news report prompt on the main account page , which differs from Google account on Fitbit . This feels akin to how Google made folksmove their Nest accountsover to Google , creating a fragmented mess out of Google ’s impudent home ecosystem .
While it might not be the same kind of fragmentation , it brings to heed the power that Google has to steamroller drug user into its system of rules through big - ticket acquisitions . Here ’s hoping Google drops the act and is as transparent as it promises to be when it reveals more details about what ’s bump to Fitbit accounts before long .
Alphabet Inc. AndroidComputingFitbitGoogleOperating systems
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