The Culture War, a podcast hosted by Tim Pool that has been linked to Russian-funded disinformation and extremist political narratives, is streamed on Spotify. This association raises concerns about the platform's role in amplifying content that may undermine democratic discourse and contribute to authoritarian propaganda.

Spotify rejected union efforts to negotiate a collective agreement regulating night work, challenging longstanding labor protections and advocating for legislative changes that could undermine worker rights.

Spotify reached a tentative agreement with its unionized staff that includes a 5.7% pay raise, improved severance, visa employee protections, and safeguards against the misuse of artificial intelligence. This agreement reflects a positive development in labor relations and a commendable commitment to worker rights.

A report by the Anti-Defamation League highlights that white supremacist content continues to proliferate on Spotify. Despite updates to its anti-extremism policies, inconsistent enforcement and limited reporting functionality (only on desktop) allow extremist groups to gain verified status, thus aiding the spread of hate-fueled authoritarian narratives.

In response to employee calls and public pressure, Spotify Technology S.A. committed $11 million to anti-racism initiatives, reflecting a strong stance on human rights and ethical corporate practices.

Spotify announced it will stop selling U.S. political advertising in early 2020, following Twitter's lead. The decision is viewed as a proactive effort to reduce politically manipulative practices and to ensure more robust oversight of content on its platform.