Spotify has removed tens of thousands of fake podcasts linked to illegal online pharmacies after an investigation highlighted the scale of the problem, according to a report released by Senator Maggie Hassan's office.
The report found that Spotify deleted about 3,500 podcast accounts and 57,000 episodes between May and November 2025 after media reports exposed content promoting online sales of drugs such as Adderall, OxyContin and other prescription medications.
Spotify said the content was part of a large-scale spam campaign designed to improve search engine visibility rather than directly target platform users.
According to the report, most of the podcasts attracted little audience attention. However, some episodes generated thousands of listens and directed users to websites offering prescription drugs for sale online.
Hassan argued that Spotify should have acted more quickly and notified law enforcement. The report also found similar drug-related content on other audio platforms, raising broader concerns about online content moderation and illegal drug promotion across the industry.
Related Tweet:
Sen. Maggie Hassan slams Spotify for slow removal of opioid podcasts and failure to inform law enforcement. Spotify says most were scams, not direct drug sales. Business Insider previously revealed that Spotify had over 200 podcasts peddling opioids. https://t.co/7ElVQbxkBi
— Insider (@thisisinsider) June 11, 2026
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Terry Jones
TIPP Staff
