A college student is going toe to toe with one of the world’s biggest pop stars, Taylor Swift, and a fascinating legal tussle.
The heart of this tale revolves around Jack Sweeney, a University of Central Florida student, who back in the legal spotlight for tracking the flight paths of Taylor Swift’s private jet.
James Slater, representing Sweeney through Slater Legal PLLC, made headlines this Wednesday on GMA by firmly stating his client will not “buckle” under the pressure from Swift’s legal team. Last December, Sweeney received a cease-and-desist letter demanding he stop sharing details of Swift’s jet travels online—details he compiles using data freely provided by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Sweeny is not just tracking the pop star’s whereabouts. He’s infamous for tracking celebrities and billionaires to highlight the environmental impact and carbon emissions resulting from their frequent flying.
Swift’s legal team, however, sees it differently. They argue that Sweeney’s actions could potentially endanger Swift by giving those with harmful intentions a “roadmap” to her. They’ve gone as far as stating Swift has had to live in constant fear for her personal safety due to attempts by armed individuals to reach her.
Slater, in response, blasted the cease-and-desist letter, defending the action as protected speech. He argues that tracking and sharing information on the environmental impact of private jet usage by public figures is not only lawful but necessary. “There’s a purpose,” Slater pointed out the environmental implications of such frequent, luxury travel.
Adding an expert opinion to the mix, Ryan Calo, a law professor from the University of Washington, stated he doesn’t see a legal basis for Swift’s team to proceed. He highlighted that the FAA makes flight paths public for safety and accountability reasons, suggesting Sweeney’s tracking serves a broader purpose.
This isn’t Sweeney’s first rodeo in the world of jet tracking. He previously had an account suspended for tracking Elon Musk’s jet, indicating a pattern of holding the elite accountable.
