Spotify removed approximately 3,500 accounts and 57,000 podcast episodes between May and November 2025. These actions targeted content promoting illegal online pharmacies and controlled substances.
The mass removal followed a May 2025 inquiry by Senator Maggie Hassan. Investigations from CNN and Business Insider previously identified phony podcasts using AI-generated content to advertise prescription drugs.
Senator Hassan pressed CEO Daniel Ek for details on moderation practices to prevent drug sales to young people. Spotify stated it is continuously working to detect and remove violating content from its platform.