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 3 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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.

(page 2) 50 comments

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (6 children)

I'm learning more and more everyday, that essentially all companies worldwide are evil. Because profit and money are what is most important to humans, I 100% want all of humanity to self-terminate and give this planet back to the few species that we didn't already wipe out! We are a nightmare species. I fear humans more than anything else in life. We are the enemy of this planet.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The best time to start boycotting was when they started platforming a conspiracy theorising, testicle headed manosphere peddler. The next best time is not I suppose.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

You're way to late then too. The perfect time to act on this was back in Iraq with that prince dick head with xi.

Also we all should have taken a harder stance at celebrity using these private security companies. Drake's in Toronto blocking roads so he can get all 16 armored cars on to the 401.

Lots of people really defend the stuff by saying "look how much money they bring to the city, we can ignore it" but at the end of the day, it's growing a new industry. I don't get why we don't call it out more like these fucks need to wait in traffic like the rest of us. I don't care who they are or how much money they make. Roads are a public space and shared by everyone equally.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It is possible to get off Spotify.

What you can't buy legitimately via other means you can use a Youtube-To-MP3 converter to rip and add the file to your music library.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago (2 children)

You're saving an already low-quality stream into a lossy format. Just use Soulseek.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

Don't have high end audio equipment anyway, I can't tell the difference on 99% of songs.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

I somehow cannot wrap my head around soulseek, so I'm just torrenting like I always do 🏴‍☠️

[–] HugeNerd 2 points 3 days ago

Well tough guy, how else is Raytheon supposed to perfect its AIM-9X Romper Room baby-seeking missile's accuracy?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

it will always be and has always been about money

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

Reading this while listening to vinyl...best enjoyable music experience.

To hell with the enshitification of music streaming.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

I’m doing my part!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

There are lots of reasons to boycott Spotify and call out Ek for being a fascism enabler but this is not one. Helsing is a promising project that could give Europe the edge in the face of Russian imperialist aggression. If anything, we need more companies shaking up the crusty MIC. They also provide important military aid to Ukraine.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Must be so nice to be so privileged as to be spoiled for choice on which fascist to support.

Spotify is the only streaming service available worldwide other than YouTube Music and Apple.

So for a lot of people it is either piracy or supporting a US tech megacorporation. Tidal, Qobuz, deezer. Cool, nice that they exist options. But most people in the planet would have to also pay a VPN and hope to not get their account banned if they want to use some of those alternatives.

It's funny really, to see how the “fascist option” for some is actually the most ethical for others.

There's always piracy of course, I suppose that is the only morally correct option always.