A group of 270 doctors has signed a letter requesting that Spotify adopt a policy on COVID-19 misinformation.
The request was inspired by one of its biggest podcasters, Joe Rogan, who interviewed vaccine skeptic Dr. Robert Malone on Dec. 31.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Joe Rogan has repeatedly spread misleading and false claims on his podcast, provoking distrust in science and medicine,” the doctors said in the letter.
The doctors, who describe themselves as a “coalition of scientists, medical professionals, professors, and science communicators spanning a wide range of fields,” have requested that Spotify “take action against the mass-misinformation events which continue to occur on its platform,” referencing Rogan’s interview with Malone as the most recent problem.
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The letter claimed that Rogan has discouraged vaccinations among youth, incorrectly described mRNA vaccines as “gene therapy,” promoted the use of ivermectin as a solution for COVID-19, and spread an assortment of other “conspiracy theories.”
The doctors also pointed out the young age of many of Rogan’s listeners, claiming that “unvaccinated 12-34-year-olds are 12 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID than those who are fully vaccinated.”
“Dr. Malone’s interview has reached many tens of millions of listeners vulnerable to predatory medical misinformation,” the letter said. “Mass-misinformation events of this scale have extraordinarily dangerous ramifications.”
The letter added that Rogan’s promotion of misinformation is a “sociological issue of devastating proportions” and that Spotify is responsible for the effects of such a policy. The doctors then requested that Spotify “immediately establish a clear and public policy to moderate misinformation on its platform.”
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said in a July 2021 interview with Axios that he does not believe the company has any editorial responsibility for what is said on the podcasts it is funding, including The Joe Rogan Experience.
Rogan has been a regular subject of controversy at Spotify. Several employees at the music streaming company threatened to strike if Spotify didn’t edit or remove sections of The Joe Rogan Experience that promoted misinformation.
In an interview with Tim Dillon, Rogan said these strikes might have to do with his views on transgender people and culture.
Spotify removed old episodes featuring controversial figures from Rogan’s archives in September 2020 after acquiring the show for $100 million. The removed episodes included his interviews with Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos, and Gavin McInnes.
The company removed 40 additional episodes in April 2021, according to Digital Music News. The removed episodes included four episodes with comedian Chris D’Elia, who had been accused of pursuing underage girls on social media, and six episodes featuring “Pizzagate” conspiracy theorist David Seaman.
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Rogan said he moved to Jason Miller’s social network GETTR on Jan. 3 after Malone was banned from Twitter due to his criticisms of the COVID-19 vaccine. Rogan had previously maintained a presence on the website but turned his social media focus to the site after Jan. 3.
