Spotify users boycott streaming platform over ICE recruitment ads

Spotify users are faced with yet another reason to cancel their subscription to the increasingly controversial streaming giant.

From military contracts to “Spotify-verified” AI-generated bands, via price hikes and artists speaking out against the platform as “the worst thing that has happened to musicians”, it’s not as if users were at a loss for reasons to ditch the Swedish company.

Now, they’ve got a new one, as subscribers are boycotting the streamer for running a series of recruitment ads courtesy of ICE – the controversial US government agency responsible for carrying out Donald Trump’s policy for mass detention and deportation.

The promotional and fearmongering ads refer to “dangerous illegals” and encourage US residents to become ICE agents, with phrases like: “Fulfill your mission to protect America. Join at Join.Ice.Gov.”

A spokesperson for Spotify has said the ads are compliant with the streamer’s US advertising policy and stressed that they are “part of a broad campaign the US government is running across television, streaming and online channels”.

The extrajudicial, paramilitary and federal law enforcement agency is under the supervision of the US Department of Homeland Security and has prompted nationwide demonstrations this year.

ICE’s aggressive and intimidation tactics have been heavily criticised, and concerns have been raised over a lack of accountability and racial profiling.

Politico has described ICE as an “un-informed, masked domestic army”, while the Guardian refer to “Trump's personal rogue agency doing his bidding regardless of accepted norms and laws,” adding: “They have become a kind of domestic enforcer for MAGA's agenda, rounding up "illegals" and deporting what they say are criminals to El Salvador, to face justice in a place without trials.”

There have been multiple reports of abuse and mistreatment of detainees in ICE facilities, including of pregnant women and children. US Senator Jon Ossoff’s office has published data showing “at least 510 instances” of physical and sexual abuse.

Several artists have spoken out against ICE this year, including Bad Bunny, Green Day, Shakira and Olivia Rodrigo, while Rage Against The Machine’s Zack De La Rocha wrote: “Its agents weaponize what they consider to be the law and will only apply it to those that they target, while they illegally detain, harass, terrorize, and disappear the members of our communities with total impunity.”

He added: “They are attempting to blur the lines between what is protest and what is “terrorism,” between who is an innocent worker and who is a “violent criminal.” This could soon be the norm, whether you’re a citizen or not. To stand with us is to stand up for yourselves.”

Spotify previously hosted a brunch for Donald Trump’s inauguration this year and donated $150,000 (€130,000) to the official ceremony, according to Dagens Nyheter.

The streamer has also faced backlash in recent months from artists choosing to remove their music from Spotify due to its then-CEO Daniel Ek “investing millions in AI military drone technology”.

Spotify also recently came under fire after allowing an AI-generated band called Velvet Sundown, which has managed to rack up millions of streams, to appear on its platform with a “verified artist” badge. Euronews Culture described Spotify’s role in allowing the AI band on the platform as "a prime example of autocratic tech bros seeking to reduce human creation to algorithms designed to eradicate art."

This month, we reported that Daniel Ek was stepping down as Spotify CEO as of 1 January 2026. He claimed the move is to allow him to focus on other businesses. He will be replaced by Alex Norström and Gustav Söderström.

Spotify board director Woody Marshall claimed that the leadership changes had been in motion for years. Nevertheless, soon-to-be co-CEOs Söderström and Norström will have to work double shifts to claw back some goodwill, which seems to be in very short supply at the moment.