Current:Home > StocksTaylor Swift's private jet tracker claps back, saying he's done 'nothing unlawful' -FinanceMind
Taylor Swift's private jet tracker claps back, saying he's done 'nothing unlawful'
View
Date:2025-04-19 20:16:33
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! (3758)
Related
- South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
- Fed Chair Powell says the US economy is in ‘solid shape’ with more rate cuts coming
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Showstoppers
- 4 sources of retirement income besides Social Security to rely upon in 2025
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- Gymshark Sale: Save 70% on Workout Gear With $20 Leggings, $12 Sports Bras, $14 Shorts & More
- Biden administration doubles down on tough asylum restrictions at border
- Helene death toll climbs to 90 | The Excerpt
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- RHONY's Brynn Whitfield Addresses Costar Rebecca Minkoff's Scientology Past
Ranking
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- Here’s how Helene and other storms dumped a whopping 40 trillion gallons of rain on the South
- Timothée Chalamet Looks Unrecognizable With Hair and Mustache Transformation on Marty Supreme Set
- Braves host Mets in doubleheader to determine last two NL playoff teams
- McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
- Biltmore Estate: What we know in the aftermath of Helene devastation in Asheville
- Major League Baseball scraps criticized All-Star Game uniforms and goes back to team jerseys
- King Charles III Shares Insight Into Queen Elizabeth’s Final Days 2 Years After Her Death
Recommendation
Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
Benny Blanco Has the Best Reaction to Selena Gomez’s Sexy Shoutout
Who's facing the most pressure in the NHL? Bruins, Jeremy Swayman at impasse
Julianne Hough Claps Back at Critics Who Told Her to Eat a Cheeseburger After Sharing Bikini Video
DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
Seminole Hard Rock Tampa evacuated twice after suspicious devices found at the casino
Convicted murderer released in the ‘90s agrees to life sentence on 2 new murder charges
Braves vs. Mets doubleheader live updates: How to watch, pitching matchups, MLB playoffs