Heads up, flight followers and celebrity snoops — the skies are getting a bit more secretive. Thanks to a fresh policy from the Federal Aviation Administration, big names like Elon Musk and Taylor Swift can now keep their private jets, well... more private. The FAA’s new system allows private aircraft owners to request the scrubbing of personally identifiable information — like their name and address — from public records. This could seriously ground the viral hobby of tracking celeb jets in real time, a practice that’s grown popular (and controversial) across platforms like Twitter and Instagram. The move stems from the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, signed under the Biden administration, and could be just the beginning, with the FAA already "evaluating" whether to make data privacy the new default. So, while you might still see that Gulfstream G650 soaring above, you might not know whether it’s Taylor heading to the Grammys or Elon hopping between Tesla HQs.

Key Points:

• The FAA has launched a system allowing private jet owners to hide their personally identifiable registration details, such as names and addresses.

• The effort is part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, signed into law in May by the Biden administration. The FAA had two years to implement the privacy protections — but it's sprung into action early.

• This change could significantly hinder the operations of celebrity jet trackers, which rely on tail numbers and registration data to link specific aircraft to famous individuals.

• Popular targets of jet tracker accounts have included Elon Musk, Taylor Swift, Mark Zuckerberg, and Kim Kardashian. These tracking accounts have gone viral, but also faced bans — particularly on platforms owned by Musk and Zuckerberg.

• Taylor Swift previously took action against jet trackers. In 2023, her legal team issued a cease-and-desist to Jack Sweeney, who runs celebrity jet tracking accounts using publicly available data.

• The FAA says it is also “evaluating” whether to make data privatization the default for all private aircraft — which could further restrict public access to flight-related information.

• Critics of celebrity jet tracking argue it’s a privacy and safety issue, while supporters claim it increases transparency in the context of carbon emissions and excessive private jet use by the ultra-wealthy.

Quote from the article: "The FAA says it’s also 'evaluating' whether to go one step further and default to keeping such information private."

Fact Check & Additional Context:

• The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 is a legitimate legislative measure that includes wide-ranging mandates to improve air travel and safety. This specific privacy provision is aimed at aligning aircraft registration practices with broader privacy norms.

• Jack Sweeney, who rose to Twitter fame by tracking Elon Musk’s jet, has consistently argued that he uses only legally sourced, publicly available data. His jet-tracking accounts have received media attention globally, and discussions around them often focus on the blurred line between public information and personal privacy.

• Some environmental activists argue that shielding jet data is a step in the wrong direction for climate accountability. Certain trackers have used the data to call out celebrity emissions and advocate for more sustainable travel habits.

In short: Don’t be surprised if flight tracking accounts go dark, but expect a heated debate over transparency, privacy, and climate responsibility to keep circling overhead.
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