Apple, Google and Spotify host podcasts on conspiracy despite crackdown on disinformation

• Tech platforms still host podcasts that peddle misinformation and violent rhetoric.
• The AP initially reported that podcasts were a loophole for conspiracies, despite broader tech crackdowns.
• Some are led by QAnon believers and claim the elections were rigged and the Capitol riots “staged”.
• Visit the Business Insider homepage for more stories.

Conspiracy theorists and pro-Trump extremists are using podcasts hosted on mainstream tech platforms to promote disinformation, despite a widespread crackdown on individual social media accounts that push these ideas.

The AP first reported that podcasts on Apple, Spotify and Google peddled allegations that the U.S. election was rigged and that the January 6 riots on the U.S. Capitol were staged, among others.

Insider also found podcasts readily available on all three platforms that claimed President-elect Joe Biden’s victory was “a fraud.”

The “Red Pill News” podcast, hosted by a user called RedPill78, described the US Capitol riots as “an organized event” in an episode that aired on January 11. It’s still available on Apple Podcasts starting January 17.

The AP found another podcast, “X22 Report,” which said in an episode before the Capitol Riots, “We the people, we are the storm, and we are coming to Washington.” This is also available on Google’s podcasting platform from January 17th.

And Insider discovered a third podcast on Sunday, titled “Quite Frankly” and hosted on Spotify, Apple and Google, where the host called the election in a Jan. 16 episode a “stinky, stinky and suspicious election” in a broader discourse on freedom of expression. “Frankly enough” also hosted RedPill78 on previous episodes.

The continued availability of these podcasts contrasts with the strict stance taken by several large tech companies to crack down on social media accounts pushing conspiracies, or hate-peddling apps, in the wake of the Jan.6 Capitol riots.

Apple, for example, removed the alternative social network Talking from its App Store on January 10, saying the company had not done enough to moderate violent rhetoric in the run-up to the riots. Pro-Trump rioters are said to have used Speak and other platforms to plan the insurgency.

Google also banned Speaking and explicitly banned some QAnon content from YouTube in October. He also announced that he would penalize accounts that posted election misinformation.

Spotify, meanwhile, banned “War Room,” a podcast hosted by former White House adviser Steve Bannon in November. The show was also suspended from Twitter and YouTube after Bannon suggested beheading government pandemic expert Dr Anthony Fauci and FBI Director Christopher Wray.

Still, although the X22 Report podcast remains available through Apple, it has been suspended by YouTube, Spotify, and Twitter. The description of the Red Pill News podcast also states that it is no longer available on YouTube.

A fourth “SoulWarrior Uncensored” podcast is led by self-proclaimed QAnon believer Melody Torres. According to the AP, she said she was started from Twitter. The AP also reported that the podcast was still available on Apple and Google, but was removed from Spotify after a media investigation.

Oren Segal of ADL’s Center on Extremism told AP: “Podcasts filled with hate and incitement to violence should not be treated any differently from any other content.

“If you want to take a strong stance against hate and extremism in the platform in any way, it should be comprehensive.”

Insider reached out to Spotify, Google, and Apple for comment.