Spotify will add content advisory to podcasts that include discussions of COVID-19

The popular streaming platform Spotify is adding a “content advisory” to any podcast episode that has discussion about COVID-19 whether vaccine related or not.

The platform’s CEO Daniel Ek announced the change after he came under fire from musicians for giving a voice to those who disseminate “misinformation” about coronavirus vaccines. 

“This new effort to combat misinformation will roll out to countries around the world in coming days,” the CEO wrote in a blog post that was published on Sunday. “To our knowledge, this content advisory is the first of its kind by a major podcast platform.”

Besides Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, who each pulled their music from the app over supposed Covid-19 misinformation, Britain’s Prince Harry along with his wife Meghan expressed their concerns to Spotify. 

The advisory will point listeners to a coronavirus information center that contains facts from select medical and health experts as well as links to other sources. Young said he objected to his music being held on the same platform as commentator Joe Rogan’s podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience.”

Rogan recently stirred controversy with his views on the pandemic, government mandates, and vaccines. He also held two separate interviews with prominent medical experts Dr. Peter McCullough and Dr. Robert Malone.

Earlier this year, 270 scientists and other medical professionals signed a letter requesting that Spotify take action against Rogan. 

Other than the content warning, Spotify will also be publishing platform rules for its creators. Elk continued in his blog post, “We know we have a critical role to play in supporting creator expression while balancing it with the safety of our users. In that role, 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.”