Taylor Swift is threatening legal action over an account tracking her private jet on social media.
Jack Sweeneywhich runs accounts that track the planes of numerous public figures, was given a cease and desist order by Swift's legal team, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, February 6. The letter, which was obtained by the outlet, stated that Swift, 34, would have “no choice but to pursue all legal action” if Sweeney, 21, did not stop his “stalking and harassing behavior.”
According to the legal document, Swift has felt a “constant state of fear for her personal safety” due to the information shared on Sweeney's social media accounts. Sweeney collects public information from the Federal Aviation Administration, in addition to data from volunteers who monitor their own signals.
“While this may be a game to you, or a avenue you hope will bring you wealth or fame, for our client it is a matter of life and death,” Swift's lawyer said. Katie Wright Morrone wrote, adding that there is “no legitimate interest or public need for this information other than to stalk, harass, and exercise dominion and control.”
Swift has dealt with stalkers throughout her career. Swift's spokesperson, Tree Painshared a statement with the outlet about how Sweeney's accounts have helped Swift's stalkers.
“We cannot comment on any ongoing police investigation, but can confirm that the timing of the stalkers suggests a link,” the statement said. “His messages tell you exactly when and where she would be.”
Sweeney, for his part, claimed he received the letter as an attempt to silence him from sharing public information and claimed the letter arrived at his home around a time when Swift was facing controversy over the impact of her flights on the environment.
“This information is already available,” he told WaPo. “Her team thinks they can rule the world.”
This isn't the first time Sweeney has been criticized for flight tracking. In 2022, he was banned on X for following the owner Elon Musk also.
“Any account that doxxes real-time location information of anyone will be suspended as it is a violation of physical security. This includes posting links to sites with real-time location information,” Musk, 52, wrote via X in December 2022 with an explanation of the decision on the ban. “Posting locations where someone has traveled to with some delay is not a safety issue, so that's fine.”
Musk later threatened to take legal action against Sweeney after the businessman claimed someone was following his son, X Æ A-12, thinking it was him.
“Last night in LA the car carrying Lil “Legal action is being taken against Sweeney and organizations that supported the harm to my family.”