DailyKenn.com — Taylor Swift’s legal team has issued a warning to a Florida college student over his operation of social media accounts tracking the flights of celebrities' private jets, The Washington Post reports.
Some
believe the information highlights hypocrisy on the part of woke
leftists who tout climate-change fears while unnecessarily dumping
copious amounts of toxic fumes into earth's fragile atmosphere.
Jack Sweeney, a third-year student at the University of Central Florida, has maintained these accounts for years, documenting the departures and arrivals of aircraft belonging to numerous notable figures, including billionaires, politicians, Russian oligarchs, and other public figures. The information is sourced from publicly available data from the Federal Aviation Administration and volunteer aviation enthusiasts who track aircraft via their broadcast signals.
Sweeney's activities sparked a debate on free speech in late 2022 when X, formerly known as Twitter, suspended his account for allegedly sharing what Elon Musk, the platform's owner, deemed to be "assassination coordinates." Notably, Sweeney's accounts do not disclose the identities of the passengers or their destinations upon landing.
In December, Swift’s legal representation at the Washington-based law firm Venable sent Sweeney a cease-and-desist letter, threatening legal action if he did not cease his "stalking and harassing behavior."
According to a copy of the letter obtained by The Washington Post, Swift's attorney, Katie Wright Morrone, stated that Sweeney's actions had caused Swift and her family "direct and irreparable harm," leading to heightened concerns for Swift's personal safety.
Morrone asserted that there was no legitimate public interest in the information provided by Sweeney's accounts, arguing that it served only to facilitate stalking, harassment, and intrusion into Swift's privacy.
Swift's spokesperson, Tree Paine, declined to comment on ongoing police investigations but suggested a correlation between Sweeney's postings and the timing of stalking incidents targeting the pop star.
In response, Sweeney, 21, viewed the letter as an intimidation tactic aimed at preventing him from sharing publicly available data. He argued that his accounts merely provided a partial overview of Swift's potential whereabouts, similar to public schedules for her concerts or NFL games she might attend.
Moreover, Sweeney highlighted that his activities came under scrutiny during a period of criticism regarding the environmental impact of Swift's flights.
Private jet travel has faced widespread criticism for its significant contribution to climate change, with Sweeney's accounts often used to identify high-profile passengers. In 2022, Swift was singled out as the "biggest celebrity carbon dioxide polluter" based on an analysis utilizing data from these accounts.
Swift's publicist refuted this claim, stating that Swift had purchased double the necessary "carbon credits" to offset her travel emissions before embarking on her recent tour.
Around the time of the December letter, Facebook and Instagram disabled Sweeney's accounts tracking Swift's air travel, citing violations of their privacy policies. Sweeney subsequently continued posting updates on Facebook and Instagram under the "Celeb Jets" accounts, which monitor the travel activities of various celebrities.
Last month, Morrone sent a follow-up letter accusing Sweeney of engaging in "harassing conduct" by posting about Swift's aircraft.
The letters also listed the names of three other Venable attorneys specializing in litigation, including one with expertise in managing digital crises for high-profile individuals.
Summary:
• Jack Sweeney, a junior at the University of Central Florida, has been running these accounts for years, using publicly available data from the Federal Aviation Administration and volunteer hobbyists.
• Swift's attorney sent Sweeney a cease-and-desist letter, accusing him of "stalking and harassing behavior" that caused Swift and her family distress and fear for their safety.
• Swift's representatives suggest a connection between the timing of stalkers and Sweeney's posts, although they cannot comment on ongoing police investigations.
• Sweeney views the letter as an attempt to intimidate him from sharing public data and points out that the information he provides is already available elsewhere.
• Private-jet flights are criticized for their environmental impact, with Swift's flights often scrutinized. Her publicist claims she offsets her carbon footprint.
• Facebook and Instagram disabled Sweeney's accounts tracking Swift's air travel, citing privacy rules, prompting him to move the updates to other accounts.
• Swift's attorneys sent a second letter, claiming Sweeney's posts constituted harassing conduct.
• The letters included the names of Venable attorneys experienced in litigation, indicating a serious legal threat.
Source: The Washington Post
200 latest news reports from 100 top conservative websites