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Spotify, the world’s leading music streaming platform, is facing intense criticism and boycott calls following CEO Daniel Ek’s announcement of a €600m ($702m) investment in Helsing, a German defence startup specialising in AI-powered combat drones and military software.

The move, announced on 17 June, has sparked widespread outrage from musicians, activists and social media users who accuse Ek of funnelling profits from music streaming into the military industry.

Many have started calling on users to cancel their subscriptions to the service.

“Finally cancelling my Spotify subscription – why am I paying for a fuckass app that works worse than it did 10 years ago, while their CEO spends all my money on technofascist military fantasies?” said one user on X.

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[-] Balaquina@lemmy.ca 133 points 1 year ago

I boycotted them a long time ago when I found out they donated to Trump's campaign, despite being a Swedish company.

[-] PrivateNoob@sopuli.xyz 50 points 1 year ago

Wow didn't know that.

[-] positiveWHAT@lemmy.world 38 points 1 year ago

I also newly started boycotting them for the same reasons. Plus they don't give enough to the musicians, and support AI music.

[-] 3abas@lemm.ee 17 points 1 year ago

Been off Spotify since they have Rogan his platform, which contributed to Trump also.

[-] roofuskit@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago
[-] Greg@lemmy.ca 30 points 1 year ago

It's legal through a US subsidiary if the funds come from US operations. The morality is questionable though

[-] vividspecter@aussie.zone 11 points 1 year ago

Not to mention giving 100s of millions of dollars to fund Joe Rogan and his extreme right-wing propaganda.

[-] killerscene@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 year ago

thats when i cancelled as well. this guy seems like such a fucknut

[-] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Same, took some legwork to get files for my 700-song library, but we did it. Fuck 'em.

this post was submitted on 27 Jun 2025
753 points (98.1% liked)

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