Tag: T&S

Partnering To Combat the Spread of Violent Content Online

September 20, 2024

At Spotify, our Platform Rules strictly prohibit content that promotes terrorism or violent extremism. We take action on content that violates our Platform Rules, and we work closely with third parties with extremism expertise to ensure we are making the most informed decisions throughout these processes, taking local, regional, and cultural context into account.

Today, to advance these efforts, we are announcing the addition of Moonshot to our Spotify Safety Advisory Council (SSAC). Moonshot’s work on understanding the motivations for online hate and extremism—and how to reduce the threat of violence both online and offline—has been critical in building safeguards on our platform. 

Growing our Spotify Safety Advisory Council

At Spotify, we design products and develop policies with safety in mind, and our longstanding partnership with Moonshot has provided critical insights to get ahead of emerging online trends.

“Since 2021, we have partnered with Spotify to produce innovative product solutions and meaningful action in response to the threat of online hate and extremism,” says Clark Hogan-Taylor, Director of Tech Partnerships at Moonshot. “From protections against racial violence to fighting organized crime, our team has worked tirelessly to ensure Spotify is a safe platform for all. We are proud to be joining the Safety Advisory Council to further contribute to this important mission.”

Moonshot joins other members of the SSAC, such as the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), to help Spotify better understand the global landscape of hate and extremism as harmful trends across borders and platforms. 

These partnerships and ongoing engagement with our SSAC reflect our commitment to constantly evolve our approach as we combine the expertise of our internal safety teams, the scale of our technology, and the insights of our trusted external partners.

Violent extremist content is prohibited on Spotify

Spotify addresses potential violent extremist content through multiple policies, which include, but are not limited to:

  • Our hate policies, which prohibit content that explicitly incites violence or hatred toward people based on protected characteristics, including race, sex, ethnicity, or sexual orientation; and
  • Our dangerous content policies, which clearly outline that content promoting or supporting terrorism or violent extremism is strictly not allowed on the Spotify platform.

We identify potentially violative content by using proactive monitoring methods, leveraging human expertise, and reviewing and responding to user reports. When it comes to enforcement, we may take various actions, including removing content or the creator’s account, reducing distribution, and/or demonetization.

This space is nuanced, complex, and always evolving, and we are committed to continually improving our processes. You can read more about our approach to violent extremism and our safety work here.

Partnering With Industry To Create a Safer Online Environment for Young People

July 19, 2024

By Marcelina Slota – Head of Platform Integrity, Spotify

Updated September 13, 2024

To continue our work providing positive experiences for young people, we’re proud to announce that PROJECT ROCKIT is joining our Spotify Safety Advisory Council (SSAC). Through their global advocacy, PROJECT ROCKIT empowers young people to combat bullying at school, online, and beyond, and their expertise will help inform how Spotify identifies and manages bullying and harassment however it may arise on our platform. Our work with PROJECT ROCKIT will build upon our long-standing partnerships with experts worldwide to advise how we continue building Spotify with safety by design at every step. 

“It’s a privilege for PROJECT ROCKIT to join Spotify’s Safety Advisory Council,” says Lucy Thomas, Cofounder and CEO of PROJECT ROCKIT. “For years, we’ve worked tirelessly to create safer spaces for young people, and this collaboration represents an incredible opportunity to extend that impact globally. By bringing youth-driven perspectives to Spotify, we can help shape a platform that champions both safety and authentic expression. Together, we’re paving the way for a digital world where young people are empowered, respected, and safe.” 

Original Post

Safety is a top priority for Spotify, which is why we want to make it easier for young people and parents to understand and navigate the digital world. Today, we’re announcing that we have a new Parental Guide to help do just that, and that Spotify has joined the Tech Coalition to share best practices with industry on upholding youth safety.

The Tech Coalition is a trusted organization that unites the global tech industry to foster a safer online environment for young people by preventing and combating online child sexual exploitation and abuse. This partnership expands our network of trusted third-party experts who help advise our teams on how we launch policies and products with safety by design. Some of the key stakeholders who’ve been helping guide our work in this space include Thorn, the WeProtect Global Alliance, and Safety Advisory Council members Alex Holmes (Deputy CEO of the nonprofit The Diana Award and founder of Anti-Bullying Ambassadors). 

In addition to partnering with experts across the globe, Spotify works to craft an experience that is both safe and enjoyable for young people through a number of ways, including by:

  • Establishing a zero-tolerance policy against content that exploits children and Platform Rules that ban illegal and/or abusive behaviors that could harm children;
  • Leveraging machine learning signals and establishing user reporting mechanisms to detect potential policy and/or legal violations;
  • Staffing teams around the clock to review and promptly remove potentially violating or explicit content; and
  • Connecting potentially vulnerable users to mental health resources when they search for content related to suicide, self-harm, and disordered eating content.

We have also launched our Parental Guide to help explain how parents can curate the experience that’s right for their families. Our work in this space is ongoing and we’ll continue updating this resource (and others) to reflect the best and most up–to-date information.