The college student behind the @SwiftJetNextDay account, which tracks Taylor Swift’s private jet online, is pushing back against the pop star’s legal threats. Swift’s attorneys claim that Jack Sweeney’s account poses a risk by potentially aiding stalkers, but Sweeney’s lawyer contends that his actions are lawful.
Sweeney operates GRNDCTRL, a website that utilizes public data from the Federal Aviation Administration to share flight details, fuel consumption, and emissions data of celebrity jets, including those owned by figures like Kylie Jenner and Bill Gates.
As a college junior in Florida, Sweeney also manages accounts on X, where he discloses flight information for both Swift and Elon Musk’s private jets, with a promise to publish data 24 hours post-flight.
Taylor Swift (Credits: ABC News)
In response to Swift’s legal team, Sweeney’s lawyer, Ethan Jacobs, asserts that the @taylorswiftjets account engages in protected speech and does not infringe upon Swift’s legal rights.
Jacobs shared a copy of the letter addressed to Swift’s lawyers on X, accompanied by the caption “Look What You Made Me Do,” referencing one of Swift’s popular songs.
Previously, Swift’s legal representatives issued Sweeney a cease-and-desist letter, alleging that his tracking of her jet jeopardized her safety by potentially disclosing her location to stalkers. Similarly, Elon Musk pursued legal action against Sweeney, claiming that his social media disclosures endangered Musk’s family.
Sweeney’s original Twitter account, @ElonJet, was suspended in 2022, and his subsequent account, @CelebrityJets, is no longer active. Despite the legal warnings, Sweeney’s attorney maintains that Swift’s legal team failed to present a valid stalking claim.
According to Jacobs, the public information shared by Sweeney does not pose a threat to Swift, and he vows to defend his client against any unwarranted legal action.
In response to queries, Jacobs emphasized that Sweeney’s actions are rooted in public information and do not constitute unlawful behavior.
He further criticized what he views as attempts by wealthy individuals, including Swift, to use legal intimidation tactics to suppress legitimate activities. Swift’s team suggested a potential link between the timing of Swift’s encounters with stalkers and Sweeney’s flight-tracking sites.
However, there is no concrete evidence supporting this claim, and Swift’s spokesperson did not respond to inquiries regarding the allegation. The most recent post on the @SwiftJetNextDay account documented Swift’s jet traveling from Burbank, California, to Las Vegas on February 11, coinciding with her attendance at the Super Bowl.
The flight details, including fuel consumption and emissions, were disclosed by the account. CBS News has sought a response from Swift’s attorney but has yet to receive one.
