Spotify removes more than 57,000 fake podcast episodes connected to online promotion of illegal drugs, following scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers, according to multiple reports. A congressional or Senate investigation finds that thousands of inauthentic episodes were used to drive listeners to illegal pharmacy websites and related online marketplaces.
The removed content is described as spread across more than 3,000 shows and tied to tens of thousands of episodes in total, with some accounts later banned as part of the same action. Reported details indicate the campaigns relied on AI-generated audio and scripted promotions to direct audiences to sites selling substances including modafinil and opioids, sometimes with references to cryptocurrency payments and unregulated online marketplaces.
Spotify’s removals and account bans are presented as a response to the investigation’s findings, including the scale of the fake podcast network and its role in facilitating illegal drug marketing. The reports characterize the conduct as coordinated attempts to present drug-selling offers through podcasts while steering listeners to external websites.
