Jack Sweeney Tracks The Amount Of CO2 Celebrities' Planes Use And Publishes Them Online
Sweeney isn't exactly a hardcore Swiftie who wants to track her every move, as he actually tracks the flight paths of planes and helicopters owned by other celebrities and billionaires, in order to log the amount of CO2 they produce.
His accounts use publicly available data, but the "Cruel Summer" singer's lawyers have argued that revealing the specific details of her flights to such a wide audience is the equivalent of stalking and harassment. According to the Wall Street Journal, Swift's lawyers said they "have no choice but to pursue any and all legal remedies" if he does not stop his "stalking and harassing behavior."
The letter Katie Wright Morrone from Venable LLP sent to Sweeney reportedly claimed that his various social media accounts had caused the "Karma" singer and her family "direct and irreparable harm, as well as emotional and physical distress," as well as heightening her "constant state of fear for her personal safety."
The letter also claimed there was no "legitimate interest in or public need for this information, other than to stalk, harass, and exert dominion and control." Wright Morrone added: "While this may be a game to you, or an avenue that you hope will earn you wealth or fame, it is a life-or-death matter for our client."
Reddit Comments
As expected, the internet had a lot of thoughts, with many coming to Sweeney's defense due to the fact that he was using public information. "Good luck suing someone for a public information," someone wrote in the comments section of a Reddit post. "Emotional distress because someone is keeping PUBLIC records of your PUBLIC actions? Not the Reputation (TV) we expected," quipped another. "Nope, this ain't it chief. You can't sue someone for posting information that is readily available to the public," agreed a third user.
"It's public information. He isn't doing anything illegal. His work is helping keep track billionaires and the extraordinarily wealthy as they go about destroying our planet with their massive carbon footprint. It is necessary work," wrote another.
"Shame is the last weapon we have against the Kardashians and Bezos' of the world," they added. "It was his work that provided data that Taylor's private jet usage (which she lent to friends and families that don't need to use private jets) is causing a lot of damage. I love her. I love her work. I love her music. But these are all just facts. We are fans... not members of a cult. And yes. Organizations and countries are doing far more damage but so are the mega rich. None of us could even match up to their individual carbon footprints and it is unfair that we will have to pay for their actions."
Another fan wrote: "I'm really disappointed, tbh. This is such a cruel move. It's public info that's already out there, there's not much she can do, but threatening a college kid over this is just cruel. What a way to point the focus on her carbon footprint though." Another said: "I'm glad to see that this sub is rightfully criticising Taylor for this. I can understand the whole 'safety' thing (to an extent) but as many have pointed out, it's public information. A stalker will have resources and will find a way regardless. This is a bad PR move for sure."