Spotify announces action against misinformation about COVID-19

Swedish online music giant Spotify announced on Sunday that it would take steps to combat misinformation about COVID-19 on its platform following the boycott launched by folk rock legend Neil Young.

Also read: Joni Mitchell follows Neil Young and left Spotify

Also read: Tricky question about misinformation for Neil Young, Joe Rogan and the Streaming Kings

Number one in the world Streaming Musical in particular introduces COVID-inspired links in all its podcasts, guiding its users to realistic and scientifically grounded information, announced its CEO and Founder Daniel Ek.

“Based on the feedback we have received over the past few weeks, it has become clear to me that we have a responsibility to do more to provide balance and access to information that is widely accepted by the medical and scientific community,” said the Swedish billionaire. In a statement.

“In the coming days this new effort will be launched to combat misinformation in countries around the world. To our knowledge these content tips are the first to the main podcast platform.

Spotify released its Terms of Use on Sunday and said it was a “test way” to give podcast creators a good signal of “what’s acceptable” without publicly discussing any sanctions.

The announcement follows a controversy sparked by American-Canadian Neil Young, who announced this week that he would withdraw his music from the Swedish platform if he did not stop hosting the controversial podcast, while American host Joe Roger is widely listened to.

The latter was accused of discouraging vaccination in adolescents and using the unofficial treatment against coronavirus, ivarmectin.

An online movement to unsubscribe from the platform has been launched on social networks and country singer Jonny Mitchell announced on Friday that he was withdrawing from Spotify.

The controversy has sparked a debate over the new responsibilities of streaming platforms over misinformation, such as the actions taken by social networks such as Facebook in recent years.