Google agrees to additional privacy protections in Spirit Airlines data sale

Google has agreed to enhanced privacy protections in its $10 million acquisition of employee data from Spirit Airlines, as confirmed by a union representing the employees. The agreement includes a more rigorous de-identification process and excludes significant employee data, such as health and medical information. This deal is set for approval by a bankruptcy judge next week, following Spirit Airlines' operational halt in May. The union stated that an independent verification agent will review the de-identified data, ensuring Google cannot re-identify it. Google is also required to process the data securely and treat it as confidential. This acquisition includes various types of data, such as emails and spreadsheets, from Spirit Airlines' operations. The agreement reflects a growing emphasis on data privacy in corporate acquisitions, particularly in the context of AI training.