U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan is demanding answers from Spotify after reports revealed that the streaming platform hosted fake podcasts promoting the sale of prescription drugs without proper oversight.
The controversy emerged following investigations by CNN and Business Insider, which found that numerous podcasts were advertising online pharmacies allegedly selling drugs like Adderall and Oxycontin—often without requiring a prescription. In response, Spotify confirmed it had removed dozens of these podcasts flagged by CNN, while Business Insider reported identifying 200 similar shows that were also taken down.
These phony podcasts not only violated Spotify’s policies but also appeared among top search results for specific drug names, potentially directing users to shady or illegal websites. U.S. law strictly prohibits the purchase of controlled substances online without a valid prescription. Amid growing concerns over teen overdose deaths linked to pills bought online, lawmakers, parents, and health experts have urged tech platforms to act more responsibly.
Senator Hassan, a Democrat from New Hampshire and ranking member of the Joint Economic Committee, sent a letter on Thursday to Spotify CEO Daniel Ek urging stronger action. She stated, “Spotify has a responsibility to significantly ramp up its efforts to stop criminals from using the platform to facilitate deadly drug sales to anyone, especially teens.”
In the letter, Hassan requested detailed information on the number of users who engaged with the fake podcasts before removal, any revenue Spotify may have earned from them, the company’s moderation methods for detecting drug-related content, and whether Spotify collaborates with law enforcement when illegal content is found. She also asked whether Spotify plans to update its policies following these revelations.
Spotify, in an earlier statement to CNN, said, “We are constantly working to detect and remove violating content across our service.”
Senator Hassan has given the company a deadline of June 12 to respond to her inquiries.
