Meta has banned several Instagram and Threads accounts that tracked the private jet movements of high-profile individuals, citing privacy concerns and risks of physical harm. The accounts, run by college student Jack Sweeney, monitored the flights of figures like Mark Zuckerberg and Taylor Swift.
Sweeney’s work has drawn legal attention in the past from Elon Musk and other celebrities.
Tracking private jets became more challenging for Sweeney after the Biden administration passed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which allows private aircraft owners to anonymize their registration data. Despite this, Sweeney has continued using alternative methods to track flights, relying on public tips and research.
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Meta’s move comes amidst a broader debate about the balance between privacy and public transparency.
Sweeney claims his accounts do not violate any platform rules and maintains that all the data he shares is publicly accessible. However, he has yet to receive a clear explanation from Meta about the ban.
