Spotify to “combat COVID-19 misinformation” after protests

The streaming platform, which hosts millions of podcasts, will begin labeling COVID-19 content with advisories that encourage listeners to visit mainstream sources for information. The move follows protests over interviews on the popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast, which has an estimated 11 million listeners. Musician Neil Young removed his music from Spotify last week after the platform declined to pull some of Rogan’s episodes about the pandemic. Joni Mitchell announced she will also pull her albums from Spotify.

What is on Rogan’s podcast episodes? Rogan recently interviewed doctors and scientists who are critical of vaccines and some of the government’s advice regarding the pandemic. He defended the interviews, saying the guests in question, while controversial, are highly accomplished and credible. He also pushed back against labeling the interviews as “dangerous misinformation,” arguing some assertions that were widely dismissed as “disinformation” months ago are now accepted as credible. Rogan has also interviewed mainstream experts but he said he’ll work to achieve more balance.

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s report in The Sift on a YouTube rule change that removes vaccine-critical content.