Congress and Union Demand Privacy Safeguards for Spirit Data Sold to Google

Former Spirit Airlines employees face potential privacy risks following Google’s $10 million acquisition of the carrier’s internal business data. The transaction, tied to Spirit’s bankruptcy proceedings, includes spreadsheets and calendars that Google says will enhance its products and AI models. A coalition of more than 100 members of Congress and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA is now pressing for specific protections to shield worker information.

The dataset at the center of the dispute contains an estimated 100 million emails and 500 million workplace messages. Sara Nelson, president of the flight attendants union, stated that current laws do not adequately protect workers in this context. She noted that the data has gained value specifically for training AI models, raising concerns that employees are being used to build systems that may eventually replace their roles.

Nelson emphasized that Spirit employees were not responsible for the company’s financial collapse. She warned that removing names is insufficient protection, as data security experts indicate that sensitive records can often be re-identified. The union argues that without stronger safeguards, it remains easy to trace the data back to individual workers.

Google responded to the controversy with a written statement. The company clarified that it is purchasing part of an enterprise dataset, not personal information. Google stated that any personal data will either be excluded entirely or de-identified by an independent third party before the transfer. The tech firm maintains the acquisition will help refine its artificial intelligence capabilities.

In a joint letter addressed to Google and Spirit, the congressional group highlighted the risk that de-identified information can be re-identified. The lawmakers proposed excluding payroll records, timecards, and certain employee communications from the sale. They also called for limits on how Google can utilize the remaining data.

Spirit representatives declined an on-camera interview regarding the sale. A company spokesperson said the airline could not explain why Google sought the specific dataset. The spokesperson directed questions about the data’s potential applications to Google. The proposed sale remains subject to review as the parties consider the privacy protections requested by the union and lawmakers.