A college student known for tracking the private jets of high-profile celebrities, including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Taylor Swift, has had his accounts suspended on Meta’s Threads platform. This action has raised questions about privacy and the limits of publicly available information.
Key Takeaways
- Jack Sweeney, a college student, tracked private jets of celebrities using publicly available data.
- Meta Threads suspended multiple accounts, including those tracking jets of Zuckerberg, Musk, and Swift.
- Sweeney claims he received no explanation for the suspensions.
- The suspended accounts have sparked discussions about privacy and social media policies.
Background on Jack Sweeney
Jack Sweeney gained notoriety in 2022 when Elon Musk banned similar jet-tracking accounts on Twitter. Sweeney had been tracking Musk’s private jet and later transitioned to Meta’s Threads platform after the Twitter dispute. His accounts provided real-time updates on the flight paths of various celebrities’ private jets, utilizing data from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The Suspensions
On a recent Monday, Meta Threads abruptly suspended several of Sweeney’s accounts that tracked the private jet travel of some of the world’s wealthiest individuals. The accounts affected include:
- Mark Zuckerberg (Meta CEO)
- Elon Musk (CEO of SpaceX and Tesla)
- Taylor Swift (singer)
- Jeff Bezos (Amazon founder)
- Bill Gates (Microsoft co-founder)
- Kim Kardashian (media personality)
- Kylie Jenner (entrepreneur)
Initially, Sweeney’s accounts tracking the jets of former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis remained active. However, shortly after the suspension of the other accounts, these two were also taken down.
Privacy Concerns
The data shared by Sweeney was publicly available, leading to debates about privacy rights versus public interest. Celebrity jet owners have expressed concerns that tracking their flights infringes on their privacy. Musk and Swift have both threatened legal action against Sweeney, labeling the tracking as "assassination coordinates" and "stalking and harassing behavior," respectively.
Sweeney’s Response
In a message to media outlets, Sweeney expressed frustration over the lack of communication from Meta regarding the suspensions. He stated that he received "zero" explanation or opportunity to appeal the decision. Logging into his account now results in a blank screen, leaving him in the dark about the future of his tracking activities.
Implications for Social Media Policies
The suspensions have ignited discussions about the responsibilities of social media platforms in regulating content that may infringe on personal privacy. As public interest in celebrity lifestyles continues to grow, the balance between transparency and privacy remains a contentious issue.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Meta will address these concerns and whether Sweeney will find a way to continue his tracking activities without further interruptions.
Sources
- Meta’s Threads suspends accounts showing private jet travel of billionaires like owner Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Taylor Swift | Fortune, Fortune.
- The college student who tracks private jets of Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Taylor Swift says his Meta Threads accounts were suspended, Yahoo Finance.