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Pop icon Taylor Swift, still basking in the glory of her record-breaking 2024 Grammy Awards (Album of the Year, dashing history as the first performer to win the award four times), finds herself embroiled in a legal battle with an unexpected opponent: the University. of 21-year-old Central Florida student and tech wizard Jack Sweeney, following his private jet travels.
His lawyers sent a stern warning (a cease-and-desist letter) to Jack, accusing his airplane-tracking hobby of crossing a dangerous line. The letter, issued in December, states that the information represents “an imminent threat to the safety and well-being” of the artist, citing several harassers she has had to deal with throughout her career. “Data gives criminals a roadmap to carry out their plans,” she argues.
While Taylor’s lawyers argue “harassment and harassment,” fans question the need for legal action, dividing Swifties into two distinct camps. On the one hand, some of her fans are siding with Taylor, citing safety concerns and the emotional toll of past harassers; On the other hand, many consider the legal action “cruel” and argue that the monitoring of public data falls within freedom of information.
Jack created social media accounts that tracked the activity of celebrities on airplanes, including the ‘You Belong With Me’ hitmaker, using publicly available data. This “game” of hers, as Taylor’s lawyers describe it, earned her praise for raising environmental awareness and even a recognition from Forbes 30 Under 30. They claim her tracking is a “matter of life and death” due to incidents of harassment past
Memories linger of a man arrested near his home last month. They maintain that Sweeney’s aircraft tracking, while seemingly harmless, provides information “in addition to stalking, harassing, and exerting dominance and control.” They claim that his online posts could reveal his precise location, putting his safety at risk.
Speaking to The Guardian, Tree Paine, the ‘Lover’ singer’s spokesperson, said: “We cannot comment on any ongoing police investigation, but we can confirm that the timing of the stalkers suggests a connection. Her posts tell you exactly when and where she would be.”
Jack sees his project as nothing more than data analysis, highlighting environmental concerns and generating public debate. Speaking to The Post, the 21-year-old claims he saw the letter as a “scare tactic” and a way to refrain from sharing public data, as the accounts offer only an incomplete sketch of which cities he might be in, similar to the public schedules of his concerts or any NFL games he may attend. “The letters were sent to me at a time when she was facing criticism over the environmental effects of her flights. This information is now available. “Her team believes they can control the world,” he said.
The University of Central Florida student gained attention for his online projects that track the movements of private jets owned by billionaires, politicians and other notables. He uses publicly available data and volunteer help to record estimated takeoffs, landings, and emissions from these planes. Last year, his work sparked a debate about freedom of expression. Twitter, now known as X, banned his accounts after Elon Musk deemed them a potential security threat.
Is it fair to examine the carbon footprints of celebrities? Does public data translate into public property? Online discourse heats up as both sides wait for the next step in this jet-powered drama.
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