Spotify removes 57,000 Opioid-promoting podcasts after Senate scrutiny

Spotify removed more than 57,000 podcast episodes linked to illegal drug promotion after concerns were raised by a US senator, revealing the scale of the platform's opioid-content problem was far greater than previously reported.

US Senator Maggie Hassan said Spotify informed her office that, through November 2025, it had taken down more than 57,000 podcast episodes, over 3,000 podcast shows and around 3,500 accounts connected to the promotion of illegal drugs, as per Business Insider.

The revelations came after Hassan's office investigated the issue following reports that opioid-promoting podcasts had appeared on the streaming platform. Business Insider first reported in May 2025 that more than 200 Spotify podcasts were marketing opioids, while a later CNN investigation identified dozens more.

Senator Criticises Spotify's Response

In a statement, Hassan's office accused Spotify of acting too slowly despite months of communication over the issue. The senator also criticised the company for allegedly failing to report removed content to law enforcement authorities.

According to Hassan's office, one podcast episode flagged during the investigation included a link to a website selling drugs that was later seized by law enforcement agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration.

"Failure to swiftly detect and remove dangerous content and also report it to law enforcement can lead to harrowing consequences," Hassan said.

She added that the risks could range from teenagers purchasing drugs potentially laced with fentanyl to older adults becoming victims of online scams.

Spotify Rejects Claims It Delayed Action

Spotify disputed suggestions that it had been slow to respond, telling Business Insider that it began removing the content as soon as it became aware of the problem in May 2025.

"We have a 24/7 operation in place to tackle these evolving threats, and we are regularly identifying and removing content that violates our guidelines," a Spotify spokesperson said.

The company argued that the podcasts were part of a broader spam network designed to increase visibility for external websites rather than a direct effort to sell drugs through Spotify itself.

"Drugs cannot be bought or sold on Spotify," the spokesperson added.

Podcasts Were Part of Larger Spam Operation

Spotify said the affected podcasts contained little or no spoken content and generated minimal audience engagement.

A June report compiled by Hassan's office cited the company's explanation that the podcasts were primarily being used to direct users toward other websites.

The streaming giant did not directly address Hassan's allegation that it failed to report the removed content to authorities. However, Spotify told Business Insider that it has "a long history of working with law enforcement when content violates the law."