Spotify has finally responded to criticism and rising pressure to act on contentious episodes of the “Joe Rogan Experience” by stating that customers listening to podcast episodes referencing COVID-19 would be warned.
Spotify’s response to days of complaints over the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast’s handling of COVID-19 falsehoods, as well as the departure of certain artists from the site due to apparent inaction over content the service hosts, is to try to be more upfront about its standards. Also Gurman: Redesigned iMac Pro, New AirPods Pro, and Other Products Will Be Released This Year
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek stated in a long blog post on Sunday that users have asked “a lot of questions over the last few days concerning our platform principles and the lines we have established between what is acceptable and what is not.” While the policies have purportedly been in place for “many years,” the service has not been “open” about them.
“Based on the comments I’ve received over the last several weeks, it’s become evident to me that we have a duty to do more to give balance and access to generally acknowledged information from the medical and scientific communities to guide us through this unique period,” says Ek.
Spotify is posting its “long-standing Platform Rules,” which were crafted by an internal team with support from external experts, as part of the modifications. The regulations will be “frequently modified to reflect the evolving safety situation.”
Any podcast episode that “includes a discussion regarding COVID-19” will also include a content alert, directing listeners to a dedicated COVID-19 site. The centre will give “data-driven facts, up-to-date information shared by scientists, clinicians, academics, and public health authorities worldwide, as well as links to reliable sources.”
Rogan’s show was often seen as a forum for COVID-19 debate, although one that disseminated misconceptions about the epidemic. Following its failure to act, singer Neil Young withdrew his songs from Spotify in protest, followed by musicians Joni Mitchell and Nils Lofgren.