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FAA Introduces System to Protect Private Aircraft Owner Data, Potentially Affecting Celebrity Jet Tracking
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a new system enabling private aircraft owners to request that their registration details, including names and addresses, remain confidential. This development could significantly affect celebrity jet trackers, who have utilized publicly available FAA registration data to identify aircraft linked to high-profile individuals such as Elon Musk and Taylor Swift.
Privacy for Aircraft Owners Mandated by New Law
This updated FAA system is a direct result of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. The legislation, enacted in May 2024 under the Biden administration, instructed the agency to establish a process within two years for aircraft owners and operators to seek privacy for their “personally identifiable information.”
Further Privacy Measures Under Consideration
According to the FAA, the agency is also considering whether to take additional measures to automatically protect such sensitive information. This evaluation indicates a potential shift towards greater privacy for aircraft owner data in the future.
Impact on Celebrity Jet Tracking Operations
These changes are expected to present challenges for celebrity jet trackers. These trackers rely on FAA registration information to pinpoint private jets owned by public figures and subsequently monitor their flight paths.
Online profiles tracking aircraft usage by individuals like Musk, Swift, Mark Zuckerberg, and Kim Kardashian have previously garnered significant attention. However, some of these accounts have faced restrictions on social media platforms, particularly those owned by Musk and Zuckerberg. In 2023, Taylor Swift’s legal team issued a cease and desist letter to Jack Sweeney, the operator of several well-known jet tracking accounts.