Spotify responds to complaints about Covid misinformation

Following protests of Spotify kicked off by Neil Young over the spread of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation_ the music streaming service said that it will add content advisories before podcasts discussing the virus.

In a post Sunday_ Spotify chief executive Daniel Ek laid out more transparent platform rules given the backlash stirred by Young_ who on Wednesday had his music removed from Spotify after the tech giant declined to get rid of episodes of  The Joe Rogan Experience_ which has been criticized for spreading virus misinformation.

 Personally_ there are plenty of individuals and views on Spotify that I disagree with strongly_ wrote Ek.  It is important to me that we don t take on the position of being content censor while also making sure that there are rules in place and consequences for those who violate them.

Ek said that the advisories will link to Spotify s fact-based COVID-19 hub in what he described as a  new effort to combat misinformation. It will roll out in the coming days_ Ek said. He did not specifically reference Rogan or Young.

Britain s Prince Harry and his wife_ Meghan_ Duchess of Sussex_ who have signed a multi-year deal to produce and host podcasts for Spotify under their production company Archewell Audio_ on Sunday urged Spotify to tame virus misinformation.

 Last April_ our co-founders began expressing concerns to our partners at Spotify about the all too real consequences of COVID-19 misinformation on its platform_ an Archewell spokesperson said in a statement.  We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis. We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does.

Earlier Sunday_ Nils Lofgren_ the Bruce Springsteen guitarist and a member of Crazy Horse_ a frequent collaborator with Young_ said he was joining Young s Spotify revolt. Lofgren said he had already had the last 27 years of his music removed and requested labels with his earlier music to do likewise.

 We encourage all musicians_ artists and music lovers everywhere to stand with us and cut ties with Spotify_ wrote Lofgren in a statement.

On Friday_ Joni Mitchell said she is seeking to remove all of her music from Spotify in solidarity with Young. Earlier_ hundreds of scientists_ professors and public health experts asked Spotify to remove a Dec. 31 episode from  The Joe Rogan Experience in which he featured Dr. Robert Malone_ an infectious-disease specialist who has been banned from Twitter for spreading COVID-19 misinformation.