Pop superstar Taylor Swift has issued a legal warning to Jack Sweeney, a college student who has been tracking her private jet movements online, calling his actions “stalking and harassing behavior.”
Swift’s legal team, led by attorney Katie Wright Morrone, sent a cease-and-desist letter to Sweeney, demanding he stop tracking and sharing the singer’s flight routes. According to the letter, Swift’s team emphasized that failure to comply would result in legal action.
Swift’s team cites personal safety concerns
In the letter, which was first reported by The Washington Post, Swift’s legal counsel expressed deep concern for the singer’s safety, stating that Sweeney’s actions had caused “direct and irreparable harm” and “emotional and physical distress.” The letter further noted that Taylor Swift was now in a “constant state of fear for her personal safety” due to the online tracking.
“There is no legitimate interest in or public need for this information, other than to stalk, harass, and exert dominion and control,” the letter read. Swift’s team also made it clear that if Sweeney did not cease his tracking activities, they would “have no choice but to pursue any and all legal remedies.”
Sweeney’s response: ‘I believe in transparency’
Sweeney, who became known for tracking the private jet flights of high-profile individuals, responded to Swift’s legal threat in a statement to The Daily Mail. He claimed that his intentions were not malicious, stating, “I think it’s important to note that nowhere do I intend for harm. I actually think Taylor Swift has some good songs.”
Sweeney also defended his actions, arguing that the public has a right to transparency. “I believe in transparency and public information. I think the people are interested, and [Swift] should have a decent expectation that your jet will be tracked whether or not I do it, as after all, it is public information,” he said.
The letter from Swift’s legal team followed a wave of public criticism over her private jet usage and its environmental impact, a controversy that made headlines just days before the cease-and-desist was sent.
Previous run-ins: Sweeney vs. Elon Musk
This is not the first time Sweeney has faced backlash from a celebrity. He was previously banned from X (formerly Twitter) after tracking Tesla founder Elon Musk’s private jet movements. Musk accused Sweeney of posting his “assassination coordinates,” leading to the account’s suspension.
Sweeney’s tracking of high-profile individuals has sparked widespread debate about privacy, transparency, and the accessibility of flight information. Whether Swift’s legal action will successfully end his tracking efforts remains to be seen, but it has once again thrust the debate into the public eye.
