Facial recognition, AI, controversial funding… Spotify under fire

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The Swedish platform has been rife with controversy, to the point that some users and artists have decided to leave in protest.

Swedish platform Spotify is being criticized for its investments in the military sector and its lack of regulation around AI. (Rodrigo Oropeza/AFP)

“Fuck Spotify,” Xavier Dang told his 159,000Instagram followers. On July 3, the French streamer and videographer called on his community to leave the platform over a host of grievances, including “years of meager pay for his artists,” a CEO who "invests in war" , or even "subscriptions on the rise".

Unfortunate coincidence: the day after its publication, the Swedish platform announced in a press release an increase in its subscription rates in several regions of the world – going from 10.99 to 11.99 euros. A price increase had already taken place in the summer of 2024. The streamer couldn't have been more right. This news adds to a long list