Google Snatches Up Spirit Airlines' Data for $10 Million

Google has acquired Spirit Airlines' old data for $10 million as part of a bankruptcy sale. The data includes roughly 10 million emails and 500 million Microsoft Teams chats, along with other internal company documents.

To alleviate concerns about privacy violations, Google will 'scrub' the records to remove personal information. Certain components, such as nearly 100 million passenger profiles and 50 million records related to Spirit's loyalty program, will not be included in the exchange.

This deal is a departure from other companies that have sought similar data through less-than-legitimate means. Google's purchase of this data at $10 million demonstrates the value of real data on the market, with Mercor, a networking and recruiting firm, being a runner-up bidder.