{
  "id": 12972331,
  "title": "Lawmakers raise alarm at Google plan to acquire Spirit Airlines data for AI models",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/lawmakers-raise-alarm-at-google-plan-to-acquire-spirit-airlines-data-12972331",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-08T22:10:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/business/corporate/2026/10/1550908/lawmakers-raise-alarm-google-plan-acquire-spirit-airlines-data"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Thursday, more than 120 U.S. lawmakers expressed alarm over Google's plan to acquire Spirit Airlines' internal data for $10 million to fuel artificial intelligence models. As part of Spirit's liquidation, Google secured the data in August through an auction, which included spreadsheets, calendars, and various operational data. Spirit Airlines ceased operations in May. A privacy ombudsman recommended approving the deal in a hearing on October 14, excluding passenger personal data of 97 million Spirit customers. The lawmakers, spearheaded by Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Steven Horsford, argued that the acquisition would involve 100 million emails, 500 million Microsoft Teams messages, and other employee records. They requested the exclusion of employee information from the transaction to the greatest extent possible. They emphasized that innovation should not come at the cost of workers' privacy or the confidentiality of their data, a condition of employment. The lawmakers highlighted the unprecedented scale and sophistication of modern AI, stating that it necessitates keeping pace with privacy protections. Google denied intentions to acquire personal information, stating they were not interested in purchasing any personal information from Spirit. The company claimed the data would either be completely excluded or de-identified by an independent third party before Google received any data. They also noted their ongoing constructive collaboration with the appointed privacy ombudsman. Union leaders, including Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, voiced concerns about the potential implications of the sale for workers across the economy. Spirit had also received a $7.5 million bid from Mercor, an AI data company. The Federal Aviation Administration approved the $58.5 million sale of Spirit's slots at New York LaGuardia Airport to JetBlue Airways.",
  "summary": "WASHINGTON: More than 120 US lawmakers raised concerns on Thursday about a deal for Alphabet’s Google unit to acquire defunct carrier Spirit Airlines’ internal data for US$10 million to train artificial intelligence systems.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CNA - Business",
        "title": "Lawmakers raise alarm at Google plan to acquire Spirit Airlines data for AI models",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/lawmakers-raise-alarm-at-google-plan-to-acquire-spirit-airlines-data",
        "published": "2026-10-08T19:49:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Record",
        "title": "Lawmakers warn Google could expose Spirit Airlines data in $10 million AI training deal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/lawmakers-warn-google-could-expose-spirit-airlines-data-in-10-million",
        "published": "2026-10-08T20:27:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Lawmakers concerned over Google's plan to acquire AI models from Spirit Airlines data",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/lawmakers-concerned-over-googles-plan-to-acquire-ai-models-from",
        "published": "2026-10-08T21:40:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Lawmakers raise alarm at Google plan to acquire Spirit Airlines data for AI models",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/lawmakers-raise-alarm-at-google-plan-to-acquire-spirit-airlines-data-12965076",
        "published": "2026-10-08T22:10:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "Lawmakers raise alarm at Google plan to acquire Spirit Airlines data for AI models",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/lawmakers-raise-alarm-at-google-plan-to-acquire-spirit-airlines-data-12969135",
        "published": "2026-10-08T22:19:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}