In the wake of alarming reports about fake podcasts promoting potentially illegal drug sales, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan is seeking answers from Spotify. The New Hampshire Democrat has formally requested the streaming platform explain how such content appeared — and what it’s doing to stop it from happening again.
Investigations by CNN and Business Insider recently uncovered hundreds of podcasts that appeared to promote online pharmacies allegedly offering prescription medications like Adderall and OxyContin without requiring a prescription. These podcasts not only violated Spotify’s own content policies but also posed serious legal and health risks, potentially directing users — including teenagers — to shady and unlawful websites.
Spotify acknowledged last week that it removed numerous offending podcasts flagged by these outlets. Some of the fake shows even ranked highly in searches for drug-related terms, sparking major concern among parents, public health officials, and lawmakers.
Senator Hassan, a ranking member of the Joint Economic Committee, has now issued a formal inquiry to Spotify CEO Daniel Ek. In her letter, she emphasized the platform’s duty to protect young users from harmful and illegal content and urged the company to enhance its moderation efforts.
“Far too many parents have suffered the unimaginable loss of a child to an accidental overdose,” Hassan said in a statement. “Spotify must step up and ensure that it’s not being used as a vehicle for dangerous and illegal drug sales — especially when teenagers are involved.”
Hassan is requesting detailed information, including:
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How many users accessed these illicit podcasts before they were removed
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Whether Spotify profited in any way from the content
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What tools are currently in place to detect drug-related content
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Whether the platform collaborates with law enforcement when illegal activity is identified
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Plans for improved content monitoring going forward
Spotify responded by reaffirming its commitment to removing content that violates its rules. A spokesperson noted that the company had not generated revenue from the offending material and added that similar content also exists across other platforms.
Senator Hassan has asked Spotify to submit a formal response by June 12, signaling the start of what could be deeper scrutiny into how tech platforms handle harmful content.
