270 Doctors Demand Spotify Implement COVID-19 ‘Misinformation Policy’ Over Joe Rogan’s Podcast

A group of 270 medical professionals sent an open letter to Spotify to urge the platform to add a misinformation policy, especially regarding COVID-19, over the success of Joe Rogan’s popular podcast.

The “Open Letter to Spotify” was subtitled “A call from the global scientific and medical communities to implement a misinformation policy.” The signers referred to themselves as “a coalition of scientists, medical professionals, professors, and science communicators spanning a wide range of fields such as microbiology, immunology, epidemiology, and neuroscience.”

The letter followed Rogan’s December interview with Dr. Robert Malone after the medical researcher was banned from Twitter over alleged COVID-19 misinformation.

“By allowing the propagation of false and societally harmful assertions, Spotify is enabling its hosted media to damage public trust in scientific research and sow doubt in the credibility of data-driven guidance offered by medical professionals,” the letter read.

“Though Spotify has a responsibility to mitigate the spread of misinformation on its platform, the company presently has no misinformation policy,” it added.

The letter’s signers added the concern was not only scientific but also sociological.

“This is not only a scientific or medical concern; it is a sociological issue of devastating proportions and Spotify is responsible for allowing this activity to thrive on its platform,” it concluded.

YouTube removed Rogan’s episode with Malone from its platform following the controversy. In contrast, Texas Republican Rep. Troy Nehls submitted a transcript of the episode to the Congressional Record, saying the move will keep it from being censored.

“Today, I submitted the transcript from the @joerogan experience podcast episode #1757 with Dr. Robert Malone to the Congressional Record,” Nehls tweeted.

You can also read the full transcript on my website HERE: https://t.co/M73ezBIQHJ

— Congressman Troy Nehls (@RepTroyNehls) January 3, 2022

“Big tech wants to restrict your access to this information- but they cannot censor the Congressional Record,” he added.

“By deplatforming Dr. Robert Malone for voicing opposition and removing the interview, Twitter and YouTube are once again proving that they don’t work for their users but for big Pharma, big media, and the elites,” Nehls said in a statement.

“When we stray away from our core principles of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of debate, democracy is lost. Today, I entered the transcript of the Joe Rogan Experience #1757 into the Congressional Record to preserve the podcast forever. Big Tech may be able to censor information on their own platforms, but they cannot censor the Congressional Record,” he added.

In contrast, others have attributed Rogan’s success to his outspoken, honest views. Canadian psychologist and bestselling author Jordan Peterson said, “That’s because he doesn’t lie. Or talk down to his audience. Or manipulate for his own narrow advantage. Go @joerogan.”

That’s because he doesn’t lie. Or talk down to his audience. Or manipulate for his own narrow advantage. Go @joerogan. See you in three weeks in Austin. https://t.co/ufgd4h9IJA

— Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) January 4, 2022

The comment came in response to a report that revealed Rogan’s audience exceeded the traffic of leading news shows, including top programs broadcast on Fox News and CNN, during the third quarter of 2021, according to average viewers per show based on Nielsen and Spotify statistics.

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