Privacy Ombudsman Backs Google's $10 Million Purchase of Spirit Airlines Data

Google's $10 million bid to acquire defunct Spirit Airlines' data for AI training received a boost after a court-appointed privacy ombudsman recommended approval of the sale. The recommendation follows privacy safeguards taken for about 97 million consumers, including hiring Tonic.ai for data de-identification. The transaction previously faced formal objections from airline labor unions, including the Allied Pilots Association, over risks to confidential employee records and voluntary aviation safety reporting. A bankruptcy court hearing to decide on final approval is scheduled for October 14.