Congress Members Urge Google to Abandon Spirit Airlines Data Purchase
Over 110 US lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Steven Horsford, asked Google and Spirit Airlines to cancel a $10 million deal for the bankrupt carrier’s internal records. The data reportedly includes about 100 million emails, 500 million Teams messages, and employee records such as payroll and timecards. Google says it is not buying personal information and that an independent third party will exclude or de-identify such data before transfer; a bankruptcy judge will consider the sale on October 14.
More than 110 lawmakers signed an October 8 letter opposing the proposed transfer. The records reportedly include roughly 100 million emails, 500 million Teams messages, and payroll and timecard files. Google says it is not acquiring personal information and that an independent party will remove or mask such material before transfer.
A court-appointed consumer privacy ombudsman advised approval on October 5 after passenger databases were left out and extra protections were added, though her review did not assess risks to workers' privacy. The bankruptcy judge will consider the sale on October 14.
If approved, the sale could shape how bankrupt firms treat workplace communications as assets. Employees may worry that internal messages and payroll records could be reused in AI systems, even with de-identification. Consumers could gain from clearer privacy safeguards if courts impose conditions. Companies may face higher costs or delays when selling data in insolvency, potentially affecting creditors and future AI training practices.