A college student in Florida who tracks private jets, including those of celebrities like Taylor Swift and Elon Musk, is pushing back against legal threats from the pop star’s lawyers. Swift’s attorneys claim that the student’s social media accounts, which post flight information for Swift’s private plane, could potentially enable stalkers. However, the student’s lawyer argues that the activity is protected speech and does not infringe on any of Swift’s legal rights.
The student’s website, GRNDCTRL, obtains public flight information from the Federal Aviation Administration and shares data on fuel use and emissions of celebrity jets, including those of Kylie Jenner and Bill Gates. In addition to tracking Swift and Musk’s jets, the student also shares flight information 24 hours after each flight on social media platforms such as X.
According to the student’s lawyer, Swift’s legal team has failed to make a viable stalking claim, and the public information posted by the student poses no threat to Swift. The lawyer also expressed doubt that Swift will pursue legal action and asserted that the student will defend his rights if necessary.
In response to the cease-and-desist letter sent by Swift’s lawyers, the student posted a copy of the letter on social media with a reference to one of Swift’s hit singles. The student’s original account, @ElonJet, was suspended by Twitter in 2022, and his account that tracked several private jets, @CelebrityJets, is also defunct.
Despite legal action from both Swift and Musk, the student’s lawyer maintains that the activity uses public information and is not unlawful in any way. Swift’s team has alleged that the timing of Swift’s stalkers suggests a connection to the student’s flight-tracking sites. However, it remains unclear if any stalkers have awaited Swift in an airport or city knowing her arrival schedule.
CBS News has reached out to Swift’s attorney for a response to the student’s lawyer’s claims. The ongoing legal battle between the student and Swift highlights a growing tension between the use of public information and concerns about safety and privacy in the age of social media.