The ads urge listeners to “join the mission to protect America” by becoming U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, but users of the music streaming giant have taken to social media and Spotify’s website to complain, and announce their withdrawal from the audio platform.
I made a tool to help with this. It sends encrypted Signal alerts when ICE shows up in your area based on community reports. Honestly been struggling to get the word out because everyone thinks it’s spam, but it’s legit and people are using it. iceheadsup.com Please check it out or share with someone it could help.
It’s interesting to see the hate for boycotts in the comments, as if boycotts are ineffective. They absolutely are – if they can get DISNEY of all companies to change their tune, they absolutely can work on other companies. Disney is much more diversified and well-funded than Spotify is
Fucking propaganda as if it was pre WW2 again…
The reasons to cancel your spotify subscription won’t stop coming.
PSA: It’s not just Spotify.
"But the recruitment ads have been running on more than one music or streaming platform, with fans flagging concerns with the ads on Hulu, Max, YouTube, and Pandora, over the past six months. "
"In August, DHS confirmed to The Independent that it would be running advertisements on YouTube, Max, Amazon Prime Video, X, LinkedIn, and other internet platforms. "
“Similarly, Spanish-language channels such as Univision and Telemundo have also run ads featuring Kristi Noem urging “illegal aliens” not to come into the country. “Join the mission to protect America with bonuses up to $50,000 and generous benefits. Apply now join.ice.gov and fulfill your mission,” says one ad.”
Amazon video and X would be surprising NOT to see on the list.
I thought people were already boycotting Spotify?
Man, y’all are weak-willed.
Are these the same users that that vowed to boycott Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Substack? Or are these the same users that vowed to boycott when Spotify started banking Joe Rogan and other rightwingers?
I’ve stopped using all of the above years ago, I’m no hypocrite, but I also know the number of people who will drop Spotify over this are a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of its massive user base. Nothing will ever change when it comes to big social media/tech companies like this because too many people don’t actually care.
People care, but seemingly not enough to actually follow through and drop their subscriptions.
You have to be willing to cause yourself some inconvenience in order to do what’s right.
If you weren’t boycotting them when they bought exclusivity with Joe Rogan you’re part of the problem.
Already done.
The tough part is that my parents are on my Spotify family plan and not tech savvy at all to use anything that I would self host. I know I can patch Spotify app and self host content on my PC but there’s no way they could troubleshoot anything if something broke. For them Spotify works and me not using my own Spotify account isn’t going to accomplish anything even if I disagree with the companies decisions. I like Spotify and would like to keep using it because I have found lots of new music through it but it’s a tough spot. Companies take advantage of users that don’t know how to do anything else.
Why can’t you & your parents live without Spotify? I’ve lived without it my entire life and I promise you nothing’s lacking. Is your idle comfort & convenience more important than doing your part to STOP OUR CURRENT HITLER??
People still using Spotify?
Not HBO… Nooooo
My tax dollars at work
Damnit. Ok.
Fine, I’ll be that guy - if you’re not already boycotting Spotify for half-a-dozen other reasons, you’re probably not going to for this.
You never know what the final straw will be for any given individual
Welcome warmly anyone who joins the fold – no chastisement, only positive feedback for a positive step.
Exactly. Better late than scared back to the other side…
Agreed, no chastisement here, just pointing out that it’s a bit ‘preaching to the converted’. Though as someone in this thread considered it a final straw, clearly it was of some use.
It is for me. I’m glad I ran across this article.
I boycott nearly everything else already. I’ve kept Spotify as a little treat even though I’m not a fan of their business practices. But this is it for me. It will be a tough adjustment, but I can’t support companies who support fascism.
Its a line that’s crossed. Podcasts and what not aren’t government. I’m generally ok with the idea that individuals spewing shit from their mouths is one thing.
Taking money from the regime in exchange for helping the regime to clamp down on human rights? That’s crossed a line. Disney learned the hard way and now Spotify will too.
Say what you will about capitalism, but I do deeply appreciate the fact that “learned the hard way” involves purely economic decisions and no actual threats of violence
I don’t remember who said it, but some billionaire equated boycotts with terrorism.
Plus not everybody sees every news story.
Exactly what I was going to say. With so much shit going on all the time and so many awful companies making even worse decisions, it’s easy to miss what cartoon villain-esque business companies are getting up to at any moment.
I was subscribed just so my Music Assistant could have my playlists and my kids liked the ease. I’ve exported those lists and just canceled.
I stand corrected.
You’re wrong actually. I’m unsubscribing as we speak.
Was your reason, like some of the others stated, that it was the nature of the ads?
Yes.
It’s a line that was crossed. Fascist mouthpieces, while yes are very likely funded by regime allies or themselves directly, at least allowed for plausible deniability. Which is something I strongly support - innocent until proved guilty.
An advertisement recruiting for ICE is directly accepting money from the regime for suppressing human rights. There is no plausible deniability. None. Zero. Zilch. Nadda.
Military recruitment ads were different too, as it was supposed to be for the national interest to have a military to respond to INTERNATIONAL threats. (Obviously… That one is changing quicker than I’d like). It’s also usually not directly from the president himself.
But ICE, the FBI and other feds are nothing more than anti-human rights. They always have been, and it’s a very clear line I draw at monetarily supporting.
I’ve been wanting to for a few years now as the service gets worse (where is my playlist radio?) but have been complacent. This is the last thing to push me over my limit. I’ll be transferring my decade-worth of playlists this weekend.
Nahh, all those other reasons are kind of hidden from the average person who doesn’t read music or tech news, most of them probably have no idea that Spotify sucks. I’m sure there’s even people hearing the ad right after witnessing ICE violence firsthand
I fall into this camp. I’ve been using YT Music more than Spotify for a while now and I haven’t paid attention to any controversy since they added Joe’s podcast. “Recruiting for ICE”, however, is one of those things that will spur me to instant action.
.
I mean I’ve been feeling the urge to for awhile now, it’s just a lot of work to move the family to something else. This is renewing my interest in sitting down and spending the time to do it.
You say that, but me moving my family plan over to Qobuz barely even interrupted the album that we were listening to - just waited for the track to end, and then switched services. Much better sound quality, much better curated recommendations, no more supporting fascist arseholes. No time like the present, do it.
Yeah I just have to sit down and move everyone’s playlists over.
does using a modified version that makes them no money count? asking for a friend
It’s better, but they gain something by collecting and selling
youryour friends data.The patch blocks sending analytics. Besides, without anything tied to the account, they’d only get your taste and that’s it. Kinda worthless in my opinion (without the ability to serve you ads)
Is good but is also both illegal and traceable since Spotify definitely knows your IP address. Probably among the riskiest ways to get your streaming on
Yeah but they’ll just ban you. They’re not going to break down your door.
IF they care. I’m not talking about mobile apps here, you control what network requests go through or don’t. I don’t remember anyone getting arrested (or banned) for blocking ads.
edit: for clarity I’m talking about a specific patch on pc compared to modified apps on android
It’s been the most stable way for ages, and at most they’ll just ban the account. Either way I don’t know of anyone getting banned bc of this exact version. Maybe if you chat with spotify support and admit it they’ll care, but I highly doubt it’s illegal to block ad requests (or telemetry), adblock isn’t illegal and it’s no different to that.
Regarding my IP - every website I ever visited already knows it. If you’re not on static IP it’s insanely easy to change, rendering an IP ban useless.
edit: to make it simpler - there is no law that says you have to accept requests from an ad server, just like there is no law forbidding you from blocking them. And breaking ToS isn’t illegal by itself, at least over here.
I wonder how deeply integrated the ads are. Can a PiHole stop them?
Should be able to. Web players + adblock used to be a foolproof solution, I didn’t keep up with it though. I guess they could get some podcast ads and a few banners in.
Love my pinhole but it can’t stop YT ads
I was thinking of re-subscribing, but I am probably not going to now.
Absolutely. People are insanely slow.
Also often only leaving a service or similar if it personally affects them negatively, otherwise just seeming angry but literally changing nothing.
Does it count as boycotting if I use the service for free with an ad blocker?
