Spotify Removes 57,000 Podcast Episodes Tied to Drug Sales

Congressional Pressure Triggers Mass Takedown

Spotify has taken down more than 57,000 podcast episodes and thousands of accounts involved in promoting illegal drugs, according to details shared with Senator Maggie Hassan. The platform removed over 3,000 shows and 3,500 accounts through November 2025, all part of a spam operation designed to drive traffic to external drug-selling websites rather than direct sales on Spotify itself.

Hassan's office raised the issue last year after identifying podcasts linking to sites later targeted by law enforcement, including the DEA. One flagged episode contained a direct link to such a site. Critics noted Spotify's response took months despite repeated correspondence, and the company did not report the removed content to authorities.

Platform Defense and Ongoing Enforcement

Spotify maintains it began addressing the problem in May 2025 as soon as it became aware of the scale. A spokesperson described the removals as part of ongoing 24/7 efforts to enforce platform guidelines against illegal content.

The senator emphasized the broader risks facing online platforms. She highlighted potential harm to users, from fentanyl-laced substances to financial scams, and called for comprehensive strategies to remove illegal content as criminals increasingly use AI to perpetuate scams at scale.