Spotify has reportedly removed over 57,000 podcast episodes and 3,000 shows that were pushing links to illegal online pharmacies, according to a new report from Senator Maggie Hassan's office. The platform also took action against 3,500 accounts involved in this scheme, which promoted prescription drugs like opioids, benzodiazepines, and stimulants without a prescription.
The report criticizes Spotify for taking action only after media outlets exposed the content and the Senator's office pressed for information for nearly a year. Notably, none of the removed content was handed over to law enforcement, and Spotify stated that it only alerts authorities when it identifies an imminent threat to life or safety, classifying these podcasts as a search-optimization tactic rather than direct evidence of illegal sales.
While the majority of these offending podcasts had minimal listens, a few managed to gain traction. Two podcasts alone reportedly garnered around 13,000 streams, guiding listeners on how to purchase drugs like modafinil using Bitcoin. Another podcast with 125 plays linked to sites posing as legitimate pharmacy marketplaces for critical medications.
Spotify attributes the surge in removals in 2025 (over 3,500 accounts) compared to the previous year (fewer than 100) to changes in its tracking methods, rather than a delayed response to scrutiny. However, the report highlights that competitors like Snap and Meta are more proactive in cooperating with and reporting drug sales to law enforcement.
The issue extends beyond Spotify, with similar fake drug podcasts found on platforms like iHeart, Amazon Music, and Podchaser. The report suggests that much of this content is now AI-generated, making it easier and cheaper to produce. While Spotify has implemented AI defenses for music, it currently lacks specific policies against AI-generated podcasts, potentially allowing them to slip through the cracks.
