Elon Musk jet-tracking teen makes back up plans in case his Twitter account disappears after Musk's acquisition

Advertisement
Elon Musk jet-tracking teen makes back up plans in case his Twitter account disappears after Musk's acquisition
Elon Musk's jet is tracked via a Twitter account run by the 19-year-old Jack Sweeney.Picture Alliance/Getty Images
  • Jack Sweeney, 19, runs a Twitter account which tracks the location of Elon Musk's private jet.
  • The teen said he has backup accounts in case the page is taken down after Musk takes control of Twitter.
Advertisement

The teenager who runs a Twitter account that tracks Elon Musk's private jet said that he's made back up plans in case the page is pulled after the billionaire acquires the social media platform.

Jack Sweeney, the 19-year-old who became famous after Musk offered him $5,000 to remove his @ElonJet Twitter account earlier this year, tweeted a list of other platforms where people can track the plane "in case this account disappears."

The teen's concerns emerged after it was announced on Monday that Musk is buying Twitter in a $44 bln deal that will take the firm private. The acquisition has yet to be approved by regulators, and isn't expected to close until later this year, but Sweeney expressed uncertainty over the future of his Twitter account if Musk eventually takes control of the firm.

Complimentary Tech Event
Transform talent with learning that works
Capability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More

"It remains unknown if Elon would take down ElonJet if he takes over Twitter," Sweeney said in a tweet from his personal account. "If he considers ElonJet a security risk rather than a critic then I'm probably gone."

Sweeney said the tracking data is in his Discord server and he's planning to make a Telegram channel onto which he could upload details of the jet's movements. People can also check where Musk's jet is via his Facebook and Instagram pages, he said.

Advertisement

The teen tagged Musk in a tweet on Monday, saying that negotiations don't have to be over and he's still willing to delete the Twitter account "if we figure something out."

Musk messaged Sweeney in fall last year, asking him to take down the Twitter account that tracks his private jet because it was a "security risk." The billionaire had previously said that social media accounts tracking his movements were "becoming a security issue."

Sweeney told Insider that he turned down Musk's offer of $5,000 in return for removing the Twitter account, because he enjoys the job. In a response to Musk, he suggested raising the figure to $50,000, which he said he could use to put towards college education or purchasing a Tesla Model 3.

{{}}