Current:Home > MyTaylor Swift's private jet tracker claps back, saying he's done 'nothing unlawful'-InfoLens
Taylor Swift's private jet tracker claps back, saying he's done 'nothing unlawful'
View Date:2024-12-23 12:08:37
One college student has no problem sharing Taylor Swift's flight paths all too well.
University of Central Florida student Jack Sweeney is pushing back on a cease-and-desist letter sent to him by Swift's attorney demanding he stop publicly posting the singer's flights on her jet. The 21-year-old ran the now-defunct Instagram page @taylorswiftjets, where he reported her flight activity using data from various sources of publicly available information.
Swift's attorney, Katie Wright Morrone, sent multiple letters to Sweeney demanding that he stop tracking and publicly sharing her flight information. In a dismissive reply shared on X on Monday, Sweeney's attorney said the 22-year-old student and his company, GRNDCTRL, did nothing illegal.
Sweeney captioned the post, "Look What You Made Me Do," referencing the title track off Swift's 2017 "Reputation" album. He also shared the two letters sent to him by Swift's team.
"Put simply, there is nothing unlawful about GRNDCTRL's use of publicly accessible information to track private jets, including those by public figures like Taylor Swift," wrote Sweeney's attorney, James Slater.
Slater argued that Sweeney's speech is protected and did not violate any of Swift's legal rights. He added that GRNDCTRL has also reported flight history for Russian oligarchs and Elon Musk.
'Texas Hold 'Em':Beyoncé becomes first Black woman to top Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart
Attorneys rejects claims he posed 'credible threat' to Swift
Swift's attorneys argue that Sweeney's actions put the popstar at risk by providing up-to-date location information accessible to potential stalkers and would-be harassers.
Slater rejected those claims by clarifying that Sweeney is using information that is already made publicly available. He added that the language in Morrone's letter defines a stalker as someone who poses a "credible threat" to a victim.
"Our clients have never made any threats against Ms. Swift and your letter does not suggest they have done so," Slater said. "Further, your letter's tone is unfounded."
USA TODAY has reached out to Swift's representatives for comment.
How is Taylor Swift's jet being tracked?
Sweeney has multiple social media accounts tracking aircrafts belonging to celebrities, billionaires and politicians, with some even analyzing the carbon footprint of the jet owners' trips.
The information doesn't come from one source bur rather uses data pieced together from a few different sources of publicly available information, such as registration information from the Federal Aviation Administration, and broadcast signals from the planes themselves. Those signals are known as Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, or ADS-B, data.
ADS-B technology is required by the Federal Aviation Administration on aircraft and shares real-time position, altitude and other information that is important to air traffic controllers. The data also allows for sites like FlightAware.com to show real-time commercial flight locations.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci and Christopher Cann
veryGood! (4517)
Related
- Veterans face challenges starting small businesses but there are plenty of resources to help
- Accused of biting police official, NYC Council member says police were the aggressors
- Online account thought to belong to Trump shooter was fake, source says
- Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella shares she's cancer free: 'I miss my doctors already'
- Lee Zeldin, Trump’s EPA Pick, Brings a Moderate Face to a Radical Game Plan
- Alabama set to execute convicted murderer, then skip autopsy
- 15 months after his firing, Tucker Carlson returns to Fox News airwaves with a GOP convention speech
- Netflix is ending basic $11.99 plan with no ads: Here's which subscription plans remain
- 'We suffered great damage': Fierce California wildfire burns homes, businesses
- Nevada judge used fallen-officer donations to pay for daughter's wedding, prosecutors say
Ranking
- College football Week 12 expert picks for every Top 25 game include SEC showdowns
- Video tutorial: How to use ChatGPT to spice up your love life
- Ashlyn Harris Shares Insight Into “Really Hard” Divorce From Ali Krieger
- Some GOP voters welcome Trump’s somewhat softened tone at Republican National Convention
- 2 striking teacher unions in Massachusetts face growing fines for refusing to return to classroom
- Meet Crush, the rare orange lobster diverted from dinner plate to aquarium by Denver Broncos fans
- How Olympic Gymnast Jade Carey Overcomes Frustrating Battle With Twisties
- How Travis Barker Is Bonding With Kourtney Kardashian's Older Kids After Welcoming Baby Rocky
Recommendation
-
Asian sesame salad sold in Wegmans supermarkets recalled over egg allergy warning
-
Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, Francis Ford Coppola to receive Kennedy Center Honors
-
Ralph Macchio reflects on nurturing marriage with Phyllis Fierro while filming 'Cobra Kai'
-
Will Smith and Johnny Depp Seen on Yacht Trip Together
-
Former North Carolina labor commissioner becomes hospital group’s CEO
-
Lara Trump says Americans may see a different version of Donald Trump in speech tonight
-
Trump’s convention notably downplays Jan. 6 and his lies about election fraud
-
Britney Spears slams Ozzy Osbourne, family for mocking her dance videos as 'sad'