It's incredible that something so clearly suspect could be still up even after the public broadcaster in NL has run a story on it. Grim.
A few people have pointed out that tracks 2 and 6 are legit so I've updated the piece with a footnote, as I did say "almost entirely" but didn't actually make it clear which songs were NOT part of the problem.
After some more digging, I found that Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad reached out to Spotify, which provided a statement that it "does not violate our platform policy."
> "Spotify does not allow work that “incites violence or hatred against protected groups or promotes violent extremism” with an “immediate risk” in the real world. According to Spotify, the song does not do that."
This surprises me, given recent anti-immigration riots, which saw far-right hooligans burn a police car and smash the windows of the Dutch liberal democrats' main office near the parliament.
The Dutch public broadcaster (and biggest news org of the country) also flagged this over the weekend: https://nos.nl/artikel/2589683-politieke-strijd-in-hitlijst-nummer-sophie-straat-tegen-ai-track-over-azc-s
So Spotify are definitely aware, but somehow hasn't taken action over the course of the first full workday.
Edit: and track 2 in your viral chart screenshot is a protest song that people are streaming to counter the far-right noise.
It's incredible that something so clearly suspect could be still up even after the public broadcaster in NL has run a story on it. Grim.
A few people have pointed out that tracks 2 and 6 are legit so I've updated the piece with a footnote, as I did say "almost entirely" but didn't actually make it clear which songs were NOT part of the problem.
After some more digging, I found that Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad reached out to Spotify, which provided a statement that it "does not violate our platform policy."
https://www.ad.nl/tech/rechts-radicaal-ai-liedje-tegen-azcs-bestormt-hitlijsten-spotify-weert-nummer-niet~a8f28e8d/
From the article:
> "Spotify does not allow work that “incites violence or hatred against protected groups or promotes violent extremism” with an “immediate risk” in the real world. According to Spotify, the song does not do that."
This surprises me, given recent anti-immigration riots, which saw far-right hooligans burn a police car and smash the windows of the Dutch liberal democrats' main office near the parliament.
There's an extensive Wikipedia article about this, too, now: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wij_zeggen_nee,_nee,_nee,_tegen_een_AZC
I clicked on the link expecting The Specials "Racist Friend". But this one‘s as good.
A fine choice sir!
🤮 The effort that people go to be mean to people who are fighting for a decent life.
Reason number 53 to hate Spotify. Never use it.
A good story, and thanks for writing this up.
Yes, it would be interesting to know how this stuff bubbles to the top
Oh my good god, that’s made me feel physically sick (but thanks anyway!).
Entirely understandable!