Pornographic content appeared in Spotify search results and company took action

Spotify Search Result Video: Popular music streaming platform Spotify is embroiled in controversies. According to reports, some users saw pornographic content in its search results. According to a report by The Verge, a Reddit user shared a screenshot of a Spotify search in which a search for rapper MIA “showed up in a porn video suggestion.” A Spotify spokesperson said the content was removed for violating the platform’s policies. According to Spotify’s content moderation policy, any content that is related to sexual content is removed.

Recently, several posts on Reddit shared examples of ‘unexpected porn videos in search results’ and ‘erotic audio tracks in a user’s Discovery Weekly playlist.’ A report in 2022 claimed that ‘the number of people trying to upload hardcore sex images to Spotify is shocking.’

There are also reports that the app has an option to block obscene content in users’ profiles, but even with this filter on, some such content still appears in the search. According to Spotify’s rules, ‘depicting nudity or genitalia for the purpose of obscenity or sexual gratification’ is prohibited.

Launched in 2008, Spotify has today become the world’s most popular audio streaming platform with over 100 million songs, 6 million podcasts and 3.5 lakh audiobooks. According to Spotify, ‘We provide our services in more than 180 countries with 640 million users and 252 million premium subscribers.’ The number of Spotify Premium users increased to 252 million in the third quarter of 2024 (ending September 30). At the same time, the total number of monthly active users increased by 11% year-on-year to 640 million.