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Spotify Hosted Fake Podcasts Selling Prescription Drugs
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Spotify is facing backlash after hundreds of fake podcasts promoted illegal drug sales, raising concerns about AI abuse and lax platform moderation.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Spotify hosted fake podcasts selling prescription drugs without prescriptions.
- Some podcasts promoted opioids like Oxycodone and Vicodin.
- Over 200 pages were removed after media exposure.
Spotify is facing criticism because it hosted numerous fake podcasts which advertise prescription drugs without medical authorization.
Business Insider (BI) and CNN investigations revealed that these so-called podcasts were little more than 10-second audio clips, or even remained silent, while potentially serving as fronts for illegal online pharmacies.
The content blatantly broke Spotify’s own rules and, in some cases, violated federal law. One podcast claimed, “Buy tramadol online in just one click […] without a prescription with legal delivery in the USA,” as reported by BI. CNN notes that others had titles like “My Adderall Store” and promoted opioids like Oxycodone and Vicodin.
The platform took down more than 200 of these pages following both Business Insider’s reporting and social media user reports. CNN discovered additional live podcasts persisted after some of them had been taken down. The Spotify spokesperson explained to CNN and BI that the company maintains continuous efforts to identify and eliminate violating content throughout its service.
Experts say the rise of AI tools has made it easier than ever to create these scam podcasts. Many used robotic voices or just cover art with clickable links, bypassing Spotify’s automated moderation systems. According to CNN, some had been active for months before removal.
Katie Paul from the Tech Transparency Project warned that “most platforms lack accountability for user-generated content like these fake podcasts,” adding that voice-based content is especially hard to moderate.
The fake shows directed users to websites which promised to deliver Adderall and Methadone without prescriptions, yet, neither BI nor CNN could verify successful purchases. The law establishes that prescription medications must be dispensed by authorized medical practitioners.
The incident has sparked new demands for enhanced monitoring because families and officials worry about the rising threat of online counterfeit drug sales following recent teen overdose deaths from internet-bought pills.
Photo by Kate Oseen on Unsplash
YouTube Releases New Weekly Ranking Of Top Podcasts In The U.S.
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
YouTube announced on Thursday a new podcast ranking feature for the United States. “Podcast Charts” will showcase the top 100 podcasts based on their recent popularity.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- YouTube launches YouTube Charts, a weekly podcast ranking in the United States.
- The new page currently features The Joe Rogan Experience, Kill Tony, and Rotten Mango at the top of the list.
- Experts say the new feature is part of YouTube’s business strategy.
Experts agree that this move is part of YouTube’s strategy to compete with Spotify and Apple.
According to the official announcement , users will now be able to visit the YouTube Charts page, featuring a podcast ranking of the most popular shows of the week, which will update every Wednesday.
The page currently features The Joe Rogan Experience, Kill Tony, Rotten Mango, 48 Hours, and The Meidas Touch Podcast on its top 5 podcasts—in that order.
“You can check out YouTube’s Top 100 podcast shows in the US to see where your favorite podcasts rank, or which podcasts you’re really missing out on!” wrote Steve McLendon, Product Manager at YouTube Podcasts.
The ranking will include different genres—such as comedy, sports, news, and true crime—and different podcasters. “Our Weekly Top Podcast Shows chart recognizes and celebrates top podcasters who are redefining the next era of entertainment with engaging, influential, culture-defining shows,” states the document.
YouTube added that the platform has 1 billion active podcast viewers and that, according to Edison Research , YouTube is Americans’ preferred service to listen to podcasts.
According to CNBC , one of the reasons why podcasters prefer the platform is that YouTube offers attractive cost per thousand impressions and cost per mile.
“YouTube just isn’t a place where you drop your content from other sources,” said Ben Meiselas, co-founder of The MeidasTouch Podcast—a show available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple podcasts, Substack, and Patreon. “We want to focus on making YouTube a channel the way people watch cable news.”
This week, YouTube also announced a new AI-powered product to place ads in videos when users are most engaged .
