"Spotify has been no stranger to controversy over the past few years, with local bands pulling their music from the platform and rallying at in-person events around the Bay Area that proclaim "death to Spotify." Many of those protests surrounded poor royalty payments and outgoing CEO Daniel Ek's involvement in the military industrial complex; however, those disillusioned with the service now have another reason to consider other streaming options. Spotify is running an ad campaign for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement."
"Last week, a thread about the ICE ads on Reddit went viral with nearly 2,000 upvotes, and videos have begun to circulate on social media with audio from the ads. "Join the mission to protect America with bonuses up to $50,000 and generous benefits. Apply now join.ice.gov and fulfill your mission," one ad says. Ads airing on other platforms, including YouTube and HBO Max, also note a $60,000 tuition repayment benefit."
"When reached for comment, Spotify confirmed that the ads were being run and shared the following statement. "This advertisement is part of a broad campaign the US government is running across television, streaming, and online channels. The content does not violate our advertising policies. However, users can mark any ad with a thumbs up or thumbs down to help manage their ads preferences." The Spotify representative did not respond to specific questions about how much money the ad campaign is generating or about issues regarding ICE's racial profiling, violence against protesters and unwarranted raids on homes. Additionally, they sent over a link to an article from the San Francisco Standard regarding ICE's hiring women-owned businesses in its marketing efforts."
Spotify is airing recruitment advertisements for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement across its platform. The ads include offers such as bonuses up to $50,000 and a $60,000 tuition repayment benefit and have circulated on social media and Reddit. Spotify confirmed the ads are part of a broader US government campaign across television, streaming, and online channels and said the content does not violate its advertising policies. Spotify did not answer specific questions about revenue from the campaign or concerns about ICE's conduct, and it provided a link concerning ICE's use of women-owned businesses in marketing. The ads tie into a larger effort to recruit thousands of deportation officers using federal funding.
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