In order to “monetize” the service he created Ground Control. The website offers custom tracking services to celebrities’ superfans. And he hosts web versions of the Twitter bots if the microblogging site closes his accounts because of privacy concerns raised by the subjects.
His accounts have the legal rights to post jet whereabouts. ADS-B data is public and every aircraft in the world is required to have a transponder. Twitter policy states that data found on other sites is allowed to be shared on Twitter.
Sweeney assures his customers he only does legal stalking.
Track Russian oligarchs
He launched two new automated Twitter handles — @RUOligarchJets and @Putinjet — following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The two flight locator profiles have amassed over 400,000 followers combined. And they also provide nearly live monitoring and mapping of the private jets’ movements.
Some of the jets tracked by the accounts include Chelsea Football Club Owner Roman Abramovich who was also called in by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to help negotiate peace talks.
