A group of 270 doctors has signed a letter requesting that Spotify adopt a policy on COVID-19 misinformation.
The request was inspired by one of its biggest podcasters, Joe Rogan, who interviewed vaccine skeptic Dr. Robert Malone on Dec. 31.
"Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Joe Rogan has repeatedly spread misleading and false claims on his podcast, provoking distrust in science and medicine," the doctors said in the letter.
The doctors, who describe themselves as a "coalition of scientists, medical professionals, professors, and science communicators spanning a wide range of fields," have requested that Spotify "take action against the mass-misinformation events which continue to occur on its platform," referencing Rogan's interview with Malone as the most recent problem.
The letter claimed that Rogan has discouraged vaccinations among youth, incorrectly described mRNA vaccines as "gene therapy," promoted the use of ivermectin as a solution for COVID-19, and spread an assortment of other "conspiracy theories."
The doctors also pointed out the young age of many of Rogan's listeners, claiming that "unvaccinated 12-34-year-olds are 12 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID than those who are fully vaccinated."
"Dr. Malone's interview has reached many tens of millions of listeners vulnerable to predatory medical misinformation," the letter said. "Mass-misinformation events of this scale have extraordinarily dangerous ramifications."
The letter added that Rogan's...
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