Taylor Swift faced criticism for her frequent air travel, particularly due to Sweeney’s efforts to monitor her flights. Sweeney compiled a video showing Swift’s 2023 plane travels, revealing she flew approximately 178,000 miles, emitting 1,200 tons of CO2, much higher than the average American. Swift’s lawyer issued a cease-and-desist order to Sweeney in February.

In response to complaints from celebrities and billionaires about public tracking of their private jet emissions, politicians took action. The Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, signed into law by President Biden on May 16th, allows private aircraft owners to anonymize their registration information. This measure, passed with overwhelming support in Congress, aims to protect the privacy of jet owners.

Previously, private jet owners were required to register their aircraft ownership information with the FAA, which was publicly accessible. This information, combined with radar mapping, allowed the public to track the flight activity of wealthy individuals. The new law allows private aircraft owners to request anonymity for their planes, making it challenging to trace their jet activity.

Critics argue that this law will hinder efforts to monitor the environmental impact of private jet travel by the affluent. Despite objections from some members of the wealthy class, the FAA reauthorization bill aims to balance privacy concerns with the public interest in tracking jet emissions.