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'Technofascist military fantasy': Spotify faces boycott calls over CEO’s investment in AI military startup (www.middleeasteye.net)

submitted 1 week ago by geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml to c/technology@lemmy.world

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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 134 points 1 week ago (8 children)

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

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 3 points 6 days ago

i boycotted them when i found out they streamed drm-protected lock-in music back then, and charged us a subscription for it.

[–] PrivateNoob@sopuli.xyz 50 points 1 week ago

Wow didn't know that.

[–] positiveWHAT@lemmy.world 38 points 1 week 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 week ago

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

[–] roofuskit@lemmy.world 17 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Highly illegal.

[–] Greg@lemmy.ca 30 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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

[–] solsangraal@lemmy.zip 18 points 1 week ago (1 children)

when due process is completely ignored, then you can be pretty sure that "legal" has no meaning anymore. especially seeing as how the people who are supposed to be enforcing these "laws" are the ones who are ignoring them

[–] TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Honey this is America, anything is legal if you got the money

[–] devfuuu@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

"The land of the free"

[–] vividspecter@aussie.zone 11 points 1 week 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 week ago

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

[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

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