Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Threads, has suspended accounts dedicated to monitoring the private jet travels of prominent figures such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Kim Kardashian.
These accounts were managed by a college student from Florida, Jack Sweeney, who gained widespread attention for using public flight data to track the whereabouts of celebrities.
The tech giant said the suspension was due to privacy violations, pointing to the potential risk of physical harm these accounts posed to the individuals being tracked.
A Meta spokesperson speaking on the issue remarked,
“Our privacy policies are designed to protect users, especially when safety concerns are involved. The tracking of high-profile individuals poses a serious threat to their security.”
On Monday, efforts to access the accounts that tracked the movements of notable figures like former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis resulted in error messages, confirming the removal of the pages.
This follows the suspension of Sweeney’s account tracking Taylor Swift’s jet on Friday.
Sweeney took to his personal account to express frustration, referencing a similar event in December 2022 when his @ElonJet account was banned from Twitter.
“This isn’t new for me, but it still feels like a way for tech companies to silence transparency,” he wrote.
Recall that U.S. President, Joe Biden, signed a bill in May allowing private aircraft owners to keep their registration details confidential.
Sweeney pointed out that tracking these movements remains possible despite the signed bill while showing his determination to continue monitoring despite Meta’s actions.
“There are always ways to gather data, especially with a network of flight enthusiasts,” he added.
Meanwhile, Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates raised concerns about the increasing limitations on the public’s ability to access information in the digital age.
Gates’ remarks came after Meta suspended several high-profile accounts dedicated to tracking the private jet travels of celebrities, including his own.
Gates raised his concern during a virtual tech conference hinting that the suspension of jet-tracking accounts on platforms like Instagram and Threads highlights a growing tension between the right to privacy and the public’s desire for transparency.
“While privacy is important, we must find a balance that allows for accountability,” he said.
The decision by Meta, which cited safety concerns as the driving factor behind the suspensions, has reignited debates on the role of tech companies in regulating user-generated content.
Gates also emphasized that it is crucial for tech platforms to create environments where safety and transparency can coexist without infringing on the public’s right to information.
In addition, Elon Musk, another prominent figure targeted by jet-tracking enthusiasts, also voiced his opinion.
He called for tighter controls on flight data, suggesting that such information should only be available to authorized parties.