this post was submitted on 27 Jun 2025
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'Technofascist military fantasy': Spotify faces boycott calls over CEO’s investment in AI military startup (www.middleeasteye.net)
submitted 2 weeks 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 133 points 2 weeks 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.

[–] PrivateNoob@sopuli.xyz 50 points 2 weeks ago

Wow didn't know that.

[–] positiveWHAT@lemmy.world 38 points 2 weeks ago

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

[–] roofuskit@lemmy.world 17 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Highly illegal.

[–] Greg@lemmy.ca 30 points 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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 2 weeks ago (1 children)

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

[–] devfuuu@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

"The land of the free"

[–] 3abas@lemm.ee 17 points 2 weeks ago

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

[–] vividspecter@aussie.zone 11 points 2 weeks 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 2 weeks ago

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

[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

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