Taylor Swift has already had a big 2024. With tour dates already sold out across the globe, her massive surge in (unwanted) face time via the NFL, and setting a new record for Grammy wins, it’s been huge. Getting to and from all these events has taken excessive use of her private jet, and now she and her legal team are upset someone is compiling that data.
Back in December, Jack Sweeney, 21, was sent a cease-and-desist letter for his tracking of her private jet across social media networks. Previously identified for tracking the information of other celebrities’ exotic transportation, his goal is to expose their level of carbon pollution. According to Swift’s lawyer Katie Wright Morrone, of the Washington law firm Venable, his posts have caused “direct and irreparable harm, as well as emotional and physical distress,” leaving her in a “constant state of fear for her personal safety.”
Morrone continued, “While this may be a game to you, or an avenue that you hope will earn you wealth or fame, it is a life-or-death matter for our Client.” In her mind there is, “no legitimate interest in or public need for this information, other than to stalk, harass and exert dominion and control.”
Previously threatened by Elon Musk for tracking his private jet, Sweeny isn’t surprised by the legal threats. However, he thinks this is little more than something people should expect from this University of Central Florida junior. He runs numerous social media accounts tracking the transponder and tail numbers of helicopters, planes, and yachts that belong to celebrities, billionaires, politicians, and other public figures.
As he explains, the information is already easily accessible online, and without hacking or invasion of privacy. All he’s done is put it in a single location and package it up all nice and pretty.