Former Spirit Airlines Flight Attendants Challenge Google's $10-Million Data Deal

Google's proposed $10 million purchase of Spirit Airlines' internal data in a bankruptcy auction is facing opposition from former flight attendants who want stronger guarantees that their personal information will be protected.

Former Spirit Airlines flight attendants are challenging Google's proposed $10-million purchase of the airline's internal data over concerns about employee privacy. [Photo: Acroterion]

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents flight attendants nationwide, has asked the bankruptcy court to block the transaction unless it explicitly protects employee data, Alexei Oreskovic reported for Fortune Tech.

The data Google wants to acquire includes extensive internal records, including employee emails, payroll information, time cards, tax documents and travel records.

The proposed transaction excludes most consumer information, such as loyalty-program profiles, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal. 

Google has said that personally identifiable information will be removed from the data before it receives the records. Spirit has also said a third party will de-identify the information to comply with applicable privacy requirements.

The flight attendants' union, however, argues that the privacy protections focus primarily on customers and do not adequately address the confidentiality of employee information.

The union says de-identification alone does not resolve its concerns about how employee data could be used.

A bankruptcy judge has postponed approval of the sale to consider the union's objections. The court has scheduled another hearing for Sept. 9. 

The dispute highlights growing concerns over what happens to sensitive employee information when companies fail and their digital records become assets in bankruptcy proceedings.