Pill Talk Shut Down: Spotify Scrubs Fake Podcasts Pushing Rx Sales

Spotify is under fire after an investigation revealed hundreds of fake podcasts to promote the sale of addictive prescription medications like Xanax, Oxycodone, and Tramadol, which sent listeners to illegal online pharmacies on a regular basis. The podcasts, some titled "My Adderall Store" and "Xtrapharma.com," consisted of short, AI-generated episodes or even nothing at all, but had links in descriptions that told users to buy drugs without a prescription-a clear violation of US law and Spotify policy.

 

Even after removing over 200 of these type podcasts upon notice from users and the media, others continue to emerge, indicating loopholes in Spotify's automated content filter. Experts warn that the failure of the service to readily identify and suspend these scams endangers public health, especially with teenagers among Spotify's millions of daily users. Spotify says it is "Confidently working to discover and take action against violating copyright material," but the issue has generated worries about extreme accountability and effectiveness of technology sites' actions.

 

Source: CNN, NDTV, Business Insider