Flight attendants secure data protection in spirit airlines sale to Google

A union representing Spirit Airlines flight attendants has reached an agreement with Google to safeguard worker data during the airline's liquidation sale. This deal, which is pending judicial approval next week, mandates that a third-party firm, Tonic AI, de-identify records, ensuring data cannot be linked back to specific individuals. The sale involves vast amounts of historical data, including 1.99 billion emails and 664 million Microsoft Teams messages dating back to 1986. The union, the 55,000-member Association for Flight Attendants, pushed for these protections after initial plans suggested the sale could lead to privacy violations. The revised agreement also excludes sensitive materials like medical records and labor relations documents. Sara Nelson, the union president, stated that this highlights that AI data concerns affect even seemingly protected jobs. Ari Ezra Waldman, a professor at the UC Irvine School of Law, called the settlement a positive step for employees, noting that unions can now negotiate for privacy rights in future data sales. The union plans to push for similar worker data protection clauses across other airlines and is engaging with state politicians to draft legislation.