Instagram Blocks Dozens of Accounts Tracking Celebrity and Public Figures' Private Jets

SEAToday.com, Jakarta - Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, recently blocked multiple Instagram and Threads accounts dedicated to tracking the private jets of celebrities and public figures.

Jack Sweeney, the administrator of these accounts, announced the sudden deactivation on his personal Threads account on (10/28/2024).

Sweeney, known for tracking the flights of high-profile figures like Elon Musk, Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian, and Jeff Bezos, expressed surprise at the abrupt block without prior notice.

“My Instagram and Threads accounts, including @elonmuskjet, were suspended again without any warning or explanation,” he said, describing the lack of options to appeal or view details for the action.

In total, Sweeney reported that 38 of his jet-tracking accounts had been blocked, with only @trump_jets remaining active. Meta explained that these suspensions were to protect the privacy and safety of tracked individuals, stating, “Due to physical security risks and following independent oversight board recommendations, we’ve deactivated these accounts in line with our privacy policies.”

Sweeney defends the project as public information, using Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data and public plane signals. He claims that the project raises public awareness of the carbon emissions generated by celebrity air travel, contributing to discussions on climate change.

Writer: Fariz Ahmad Luthfi