Google faces lawmaker pressure over Spirit Airlines data for AI training

More than 120 US lawmakers are objecting to Google’s plan to buy internal Spirit Airlines data for AI training as part of the defunct carrier’s bankruptcy asset sale. Reuters reported that Google won an auction for data covering spreadsheets, calendars, marketing, productivity and operations materials.

A privacy ombudsman has recommended approval of the sale after excluding passenger personal information from tens of millions of customers. The lawmakers say the remaining package could still include about 100 million emails, 500 million Microsoft Teams messages and other employee records, and they asked Google to exclude employee information as much as possible.

Google told Reuters it is not seeking personal information and said any such data would be excluded or de-identified by an independent third party before it receives the material. Union leaders have also raised concerns, saying the terms could shape how worker data is treated in future AI data sales.

The case matters beyond one airline bankruptcy. If large AI buyers can purchase internal corporate archives after a company fails, courts and privacy officials may need clearer rules for employee data, de-identification and consent in AI training deals.