Big Tech Strikes Back: Meta Silences Jet-Tracker Monitoring Billionaires' Every Move

Meta has removed accounts that track the plane movements of its CEO Mark Zuckerberg, X owner Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Kim Kardashian, former President Trump, and others, according to Jack Sweeney, the jet-tracker behind the accounts.

Sweeney revealed on Tuesday that the suspension of his accounts, including his Instagram and Threads account, @elonmusksjet, came as no surprise to him, drawing parallels with his experience on Twitter.

"Today brings a sense of déjà vu, reminiscent of all my accounts getting suspended on Twitter," Sweeney said. "The Meta accounts' removal seems like an attempt to keep tabs on the powerful and wealthy, suppressing transparency and accountability."

Sweeney, a 20-year-old University of Central Florida student, rose to prominence in 2020 for his Twitter bot that tracked the private jets of high-profile figures, sparking both praise and criticism.

He argued that his actions were justified as a means of promoting corporate accountability and transparency. After Twitter permanently suspended his bot in 2022, Sweeney created new accounts on Meta's platforms to continue his work.

Musk and Zuckerberg have also clashed in the past over Sweeney's tracking efforts. Musk previously tried to offer Sweeney $5,000 to remove the Twitter bot tracking his private jet's movements.

It is unclear what ultimately led to the removal of Sweeney's accounts from Meta platforms, but the jet-tracker vowed to find an alternative platform to share his work.

The growing trend of tracking private jets has sparked debates over issues of personal security and the right to privacy for public figures. Critics have raised concerns over potential security risks associated with the publication of a private jet's flight data.

On the other hand, proponents argue that such tracking efforts help bring about corporate accountability and shed light on the personal habits of influential figures, promoting transparency in the use of resources such as fuel, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

As Meta tightens its grip on users and third-party developers, social media companies continue to grapple with these thorny issues. With the spotlight on actions taken against Sweeney, a greater conversation on data ownership and the limits of social media appears to be unfolding.