'Tossed my Fitbit in the trash': users fear for privacy after Google buys company

Fitbit says data of its 28 million users will not be sold or used for Google ads

Google's recent acquisition of Fitbit for $2.1bn has left many users worried the tech giant may soon have access to their most intimate health information - from the number of steps they take each day to their breathing patterns, sleep quality or menstrual cycles.

Fitbit, founded in San Francisco in 2007, tracks the health data of 28 million users. In a blogpost following the acquisition on Friday, Fitbit claimed user data would not be sold or used for Google advertising. "Consumer trust is paramount to Fitbit. Strong privacy and security guidelines have been part of Fitbit's DNA since day one, and this will not change," the company said in a statement.