Docs name on Spotify to cease COVID misinformation, citing Joe Rogan podcast

Greater than 250 medical professionals have signed an open letter calling on Spotify to clamp down on COVID misinformation spreading on its platform, specifically calling out the podcast of comic Joe Rogan.

The letter took problem with the Dec. 31 episode of The Joe Rogan Expertise podcast, which featured Dr. Robert Malone, an immunologist who claims to have created the mRNA expertise however is now a vocal skeptic of the vaccines that use it.

“By permitting the propagation of false and societally dangerous assertions, Spotify is enabling its hosted media to wreck public belief in scientific analysis and sow doubt within the credibility of data-driven steerage provided by medical professionals,” the letter reads.

“This isn’t solely a scientific or medical concern; it’s a sociological problem of devastating proportions and Spotify is liable for permitting this exercise to thrive on its platform,” the letter says.

The letter, which was first reported Wednesday by Rolling Stone, goes on to catalog what the signers stated are extra situations of COVID-19 falsehoods promoted on Rogan’s podcast.

Rogan, who has about 11 million individuals actively pay attention, has an extended historical past of cynicism towards scientifically established well being recommendation concerning COVID-19. He is questioned the usage of masks and promoted the usage of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID treatment on his present.

Social media firms have been taking an more and more tougher line on misinformation in recent times, notably because it pertains to the unfold of COVID misinformation. Twitter has begun labeling any tweets that may contain misleading information concerning the COVID-19 vaccines and banned Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green for spreading vaccine misinformation.

Google-owned YouTube has additionally stepped up its battle in opposition to misinformation by banning COVID vaccine misinformation and anti-vax misinformation and eradicating greater than 1 million movies in 2021 associated to COVID misinformation.

Spotify did not instantly reply to a request for remark, however previously it has taken down content material for spreading COVID-19 misinformation, most notably removing podcaster Pete Evans from the service.