After Alex Jones got dinged by both YouTube and Facebook last week due to the dangerous conspiracy theories he continues to spread as well as otherwise controversial content intended to incite his audience, Spotify is now facing a backlash for hosting InfoWars podcasts. Facebook handed Jones a 30 day suspension while YouTube issued a strike for violating broadcast standards — which will result in his channel removed if he gets two more strikes within a three month period.
On Monday, Jones urged his followers to sign up for Spotify to receive his podcast with the reasoning that “big tech giants are currently censoring us harder than ever.”
🚨 Fight Against The Censorship 🚨
Big tech giants are currently censoring us harder than ever. Help us fight this censorship by spreading the links below for our downloadable podcasts. ✊
‼️ Spreaker: https://t.co/fNDSRsZPzd ‼️
‼️ Spotify: https://t.co/wWDxVECy8w ‼️
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) July 30, 2018
Blogger Jared Holt also pointed out how difficult it is to get a podcast hosted on the platform.
https://twitter.com/jaredlholt/status/1023944316794941440
Spotify has a tenuous track record when it comes to banning artists and content from its platform. Back in May the streaming service unrolled a new Hate Content & Hateful Conduct policy which pledged to stop promoting R. Kelly on playlists and algorithmic recommendations, however apparently pulled an about-face just two weeks later.
This time, Spotify is seeing a significant backlash from giving a platform to the man who regularly encourages his fans to harass gun violence victims. As such, subscribers are starting to abandon ship while artists threaten to pull their music from the platform.
Holy shit. Really, @Spotify?
Alex Jones has been responsible for harassing parents of Sandy Hook children, Vegas shooting victims and threatening to kill the Special Counsel. And you’re now hosting his podcasts?? https://t.co/dAIYiNKdXP
— Sleeping Giants (@slpng_giants) July 30, 2018
Dear @SpotifyCares – why are you supporting Alex Jones and his vile, racist, fascist views on Spotify? As a premium customer I will be cancelling my subscription and advising others to do so.
— Natalie Silvey (@silv24) July 31, 2018
Just heard @Spotify is posting Info Wars podcasts. Alex Jones spreads lies and makes vicious attacks on victims of gun violence. @SpotifyCares please take down this harmful content. @slpng_giants @sandyhook
— Keri Cascio (@keribrary) July 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/ChrisMezzolesta/status/1023948767756726272
https://twitter.com/ruckawriter/status/1023951052767342592
https://twitter.com/JenniferLoTX/status/1024139074532245504
https://twitter.com/conormahood/status/1023986466328928258
https://twitter.com/hirstys/status/1024191329708986369
#BoycottSpotify @Spotify Just saying; every second you host Alex Jones on your platform is going to be terrible PR. I hope you remove him because if he's still there by Friday, you'll have lost another Spotify Premium subscriber. His vitrol has no place.
— Baconnomz (@Baconnomz) July 31, 2018
Spotify had better do some damage control and fast, because at this rate, the streaming service will only continue to hemorrhage subscribers.
(Via Daily Beast)