The “Shake It Off” singer is taking matters into her own hands. Attorneys for Taylor Swift have sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Florida college student who tracks the private jets of celebrities and public figures, including the “Love Story” singer. Jack Sweeney, a University of Central Florida student who runs several social media accounts tracking the private jet use of Swift and other celebrities, received the letter from Swift’s lawyers in December. The letter states that if he continues publishing information on Swift’s air travel, the pop star will “pursue all legal remedies available to her.”
Sweeney has been following planes and helicopters since 2022 and gained traction during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by tracking the private jets of Russian oligarchs and politicians. His accounts rely on publicly available data, including the FAA-approved flight tracking signals broadcast by aircraft. While many private plane owners opt to block their flights from the free online flight-tracking services, others feed the information into independent websites that criminal investigators and researchers can access.
According to the cease-and-desist letter sent by attorneys from Venable LLP, Sweeney’s posts present a real and substantial threat to Swift’s safety and security. The letter notes that “there have been many public cases of stalkers and people who wish her harm” and says that providing information on Swift’s private air travel allows those individuals a roadmap to her homes.
The lawyers note that Swift has been forced to move multiple times in recent years due to threats she’s received and that her home in New York is now a fortress of steel and concrete. They also point to reports of men attempting to break into her apartment and claim that giving public details about her flight paths gives terrible actors a blueprint on how to harass or stalk the singer.
Swift’s lawyers, led by Katie Wright Morrone, argue that a threat of legal action is “sufficient to put Mr. Sweeney on notice that he is engaging in unauthorized and illegal conduct.” They add that the letters ensure Swift’s privacy, safety, and well-being.
The pop star is currently in Tokyo, Japan, performing four concerts. She’ll play the last show on Saturday night, just days before she heads to Las Vegas for boyfriend Travis Kelce’s Super Bowl game with the Kansas City Chiefs. Whether she takes her private jet or flies a commercial, Swift’s trip will be highly watched.