Spotify should be urged to take legal action by a group of over 260 scientists, doctors, professors, and science communicators. “mass-information events”Its platform specifically mentions Joe Rogan, podcast host.
Open letter dated January 10, detailing a Dec. 31, episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience”In which Dr. Robert Malone, who was suspended by Twitter because he spread false COVID-19 information, promoted “baseless conspiracy theories” is used as an example of the show’s history of “broadcasting misinformation.”
“By allowing the propagation of false and societally harmful assertions, Spotify is enabling its hosted media to damage public trust in scientific research and sow doubt in the credibility of data-driven guidance offered by medical professionals,”The letter urges the platform establish a policy to limit the spread of false information. “We are calling on Spotify to take action against the mass-misinformation events which continue to occur on its platform. With an estimated 11 million listeners per episode, ‘JRE’ is the world’s largest podcast and has tremendous influence. Though Spotify has a responsibility to mitigate the spread of misinformation on its platform, the company presently has no misinformation policy.”
Scientists point out that Rogan repeatedly made misleading and false claims in his podcast. These ranged from encouraging vaccination in young people to promoting ivermectin for COVID-19. “Unvaccinated 12-34 year olds are 12 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID than those who are fully vaccinated,”It points out that the median age of “The Joe Rogan Experience”Listeners is 24 years old.
“This is not only a scientific or medical concern; it is a sociological issue of devastating proportions and Spotify is responsible for allowing this activity to thrive on its platform,”The letter also states that the undersigned have noted that they are scientists and added, “face backlash and resistance as the public grows to distrust our research and expertise”They are working to fix it. “the public’s damaged understanding of science and medicine.”
Spotfiy is the end of the letter. “We, the undersigned doctors, nurses, scientists, and educators thus call on Spotify to immediately establish a clear and public policy to moderate misinformation on its platform.”
The full letter is available here Here.