Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, has recently taken significant action by blocking numerous flight-tracking accounts that focus on the private jets of celebrities and public figures. This move was first highlighted by Jack Sweeney, the administrator of these tracking accounts, who shared the information on his personal Threads account. Sweeney noted that his accounts on Threads and Instagram, specifically the one tracking Elon Musk's jet, were abruptly suspended without prior warnings or explanations.

In his post, Sweeney expressed his frustration, stating, “My Instagram and Threads accounts, @elonmuskjet, were suspended again. Unlike previous suspensions that came with warnings and reasons, this time my account was blocked instantly, with no option to appeal or inquire further.” He mentioned that many of his other accounts, which tracked various celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian, and Jeff Bezos, were also suspended. While Sweeney reported that most of his tracking accounts faced immediate deactivation, he noted that the account tracking Donald Trump’s jet was still operational. However, the account for Taylor Swift’s jet was suspended, albeit with a warning message attached.

Sweeney has claimed that a total of 38 of his flight-tracking accounts have been blocked. In a statement from Meta, the company explained that this decision was made to protect the privacy and security of the individuals being tracked. Meta emphasized that the accounts violated its privacy policies, noting, “Given the risk of physical harm to individuals, and based on recommendations from our independent oversight board, we have disabled these accounts.”

Despite the widespread suspension of these tracking accounts on Meta’s platforms, some still remain active on other social media networks, including Bluesky. Sweeney indicated that his methods for tracking these private jets involved utilizing flight data sourced from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and public aircraft signals to predict the locations of these jets. He has argued that his project serves a valuable purpose, providing information that can educate the public about carbon emissions related to air travel, which is a significant contributor to climate change.

The tracking accounts have garnered mixed reactions. They are viewed as beneficial resources for journalists and public advocates concerned about carbon emissions, but they also raise privacy and security issues. Notably, Sweeney has faced legal challenges, including from Taylor Swift, who objected to the tracking of her private jet and took legal action against him.

Prior to being banned by Meta, Sweeney's account tracking Elon Musk, known as @elonjet, had already been suspended on X (formerly Twitter) in December 2022. This account was well-known for sharing real-time updates about Musk's air travel. Following the suspension of @elonjet, several other accounts operated by Sweeney were also disabled by Twitter. Musk had previously expressed his disapproval of such accounts, stating that any accounts sharing real-time location information of individuals would be banned, as this could pose security risks.

The recent actions by Meta highlight the ongoing debate about privacy versus public interest, particularly regarding the tracking of high-profile individuals and their activities. The situation continues to evolve as social media platforms grapple with their policies surrounding privacy and the sharing of sensitive information.

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