Spotify will add content advisories before podcasts discussing the coronavirus following protests kicked off by Neil Young over the spread of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.
In a post on Sunday, Spotify chief executive Daniel Ek laid out more transparent platform rules given the backlash stirred by veteran singer 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 criticised for spreading virus misinformation.
“Personally, there are plenty of individuals and views on Spotify that I disagree with strongly,” Ek said. “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 the advisories would link to Spotify’s fact-based COVID-19 hub in a “new effort to combat misinformation”.
Rogan responded to the fallout on Sunday, saying in an Instagram video that he was only seeking to have conversations with people who have “differing opinions”.
“I’m not trying to promote misinformation, I’m not trying to be controversial,” Rogan said. “I’ve never tried to do anything with this podcast other than to just talk to people.”
He also said he would try to book doctors with different opinions right after he talked to “the controversial ones”.
The stand-up comedian additionally welcomed the idea of adding content advisories.
Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, who have a multi-year deal podcast deal with Spotify, on Sunday urged it 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,” their production company Archewell Audio said.
“We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does.”
Following Young’s exit from Spotify, fellow musician Joni Mitchell followed suit in “solidarity”, along with Nils Lofgren, the Bruce Springsteen guitarist and a member of Crazy Horse, a frequent collaborator with Young.
Spotify acquired Rogan’s podcast in 2020, reportedly for more than $US100 million.
The Joe Rogan Experience has sparked outrage for spreading virus conspiracy theories and for promoting the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 symptoms. Despite ivermectin largely being represented as a ‘horse dewormer’ by large media companies, it has been used to treat humans for a variety of infections since 1988. A recent study by Japanese trading and pharmaceuticals company, Kowa, said that ivermectin showed “antiviral effect” against Omicron and other coronavirus variants.
Rogan has also suggested the young and healthy do not need the COVID-19 vaccine.
AP with PA
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