Spotify has been accused of “hiding behind the language of internet platforms” to avoid taking responsibility for its content amid ongoing controversy over anti-vax material on comedian Joe Rogan’s podcast.
Musician Neil Young pulled his back catalogue from the streaming site last week to protest sharing a platform with The Joe Rogan Experience, which he accused of spreading false information about vaccines.
Fellow Canadian Joni Mitchell later joined him in solidarity. A recent episode prompted 270 scientists, doctors, academics and health care experts to sign an open letter to Spotify warning that Mr Rogan had “repeatedly spread misleading and false claims on his podcast, provoking distrust in science and medicine” throughout the pandemic, including discouraging vaccination in young people and children.
Spotify is believed to have paid $100m (£74m) for the exclusive rights to the show, which is the most listened to podcast in the UK.