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.

  • miguel@fedia.io
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    2 days ago

    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.

    • nymnympseudonym@piefed.social
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      2 days ago

      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.

        • EldritchFemininity@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          2 days ago

          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.

      • miguel@fedia.io
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        2 days ago

        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.

        • papasan_mamasan@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          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.

          • peoplebeproblems@midwest.social
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            2 days ago

            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.

            • nymnympseudonym@piefed.social
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              1 day ago

              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

    • ThePantser@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      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.

    • Strider@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      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.

      • miguel@fedia.io
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        1 day ago

        Was your reason, like some of the others stated, that it was the nature of the ads?

        • peoplebeproblems@midwest.social
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          1 day ago

          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.

    • jaycifer@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      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.

    • glimse@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      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

      • Stabbitha@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        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. .

    • MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      2 days ago

      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.

      • addie@feddit.uk
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        2 days ago

        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.

      • jukmehrk@lemmy.org
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        2 days ago

        It’s better, but they gain something by collecting and selling your your friends data.

        • real_squids@sopuli.xyz
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          1 day ago

          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)

      • nymnympseudonym@piefed.social
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        2 days ago

        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

          • real_squids@sopuli.xyz
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            2 days ago

            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

        • real_squids@sopuli.xyz
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          2 days ago

          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.