Spotify recently pulled over 200 podcasts from its platform after discovering they were illegally promoting prescription drugs.
No time to read, listen to our podcast.
However, the crackdown seems to have missed the mark, as dozens of shows with drug names in their titles and links to illicit online pharmacies still linger in the catalog.
These rogue podcasts are often generated using AI and text-to-speech tools, producing episodes as short as 10 to 60 seconds. Some feature synthetic voices, while others are simply silent, serving as cheap, quick vessels to bypass moderation and funnel listeners to websites selling pharmaceuticals. This content is designed to exploit Spotify’s algorithms, slipping through cracks to promote dangerous products.
The core issue lies in Spotify’s automated moderation systems, which struggle to detect this type of content. Many of these shows have lingered on the platform for months, even climbing to the top of search results for drug-related terms.
For users seeking legitimate health-related podcasts, this creates a toxic bait-and-switch, undermining trust in the platform.
Spotify has acknowledged the issue and confirmed it is removing offending content, but the company has been vague about its methods or plans for a broader fix. Experts point out that audio content is a blind spot for moderation.
Current algorithms are ill-equipped to handle malicious audio, and manual reviews could take years to clear the backlog.
Also read:
- Quasa Rewards Technology: Crafted for Creators & Brands
- Sasha Kaletsky and Caspar Lee Raise $45M for Creator Ventures Fund II, Backing the Next Wave of Consumer Internet Startups
- TikTok and SoundCloud Announce Collaboration: Save Tracks Directly from Videos
The persistence of these shows highlights a growing challenge for platforms like Spotify: balancing scale with safety. As AI-generated content floods streaming services, robust moderation is critical to protect users from harmful scams. Hopefully, Spotify can address this gap soon. Stay safe, and keep an eye out for those you care about — drugs are no joke.
