Spotify is hosting Alex Jones Infowars podcast after YouTube and Facebook bans – to the outrage of users

Customers threaten to leave unless host, who claimed Sandy Hook was a hoax, is removed

(Reuters)

Spotify is hosting podcasts by Alex Jones's controversial Infowars podcast.

A vast number of the company's customers are threatening to cancel their subscriptions over the streaming service's decision to keep the podcasts up.

Jones has attracted criticism over a wide variety of false claims and personal attacks, including suggestions that the Sandy Hook massacre and other mass shootings were hoaxes. Those conspiracy theories and rumours are often shared on his Infowars shows, including on the podcast.

While known as a music streaming service, Spotify also hosts podcasts. Those are specifically agreed by Spotify, unlike other platforms that allow theoretically any podcast to appear in their listings.

Users claimed they would be cancelling their accounts over the company's decision to allow Jones to continue to have a high-profile place on the service.

"I'm cancelling my account over your inclusion of Infowars podcast to your service," wrote one Twitter user. "These are purveyors of hate, fear, and propaganda."

The Sleeping Giants campaign, which aims to encourage companies to drop ads from media organisations that it claims encourage "bigotry, sexism, and racism", also attacked Spotify's decision to host the podcast.

"Really, Spotify?" it wrote on Twitter. "Alex Jones has been responsible for harassing parents of Sandy Hook children, Vegas shooting victims and threatening to kill the Special Counsel. And you’re now hosting his podcasts??"

Alex Jones has been banned or censured by many other tech platforms, including YouTube and Facebook. He posted links to his Spotify as part of a plan to circulate the podcast outside of those established services.

"Fight Against The Censorship," he wrote alongside links to Spotify as well as another smaller hosting platform. "Big tech giants are currently censoring us harder than ever."

As well as his much criticised comments on mass shootings, Jones has used his various media platforms to push conspiracy theories including the idea the world is controlled by the illuminati and that frogs are being turned gay by water.

Spotify did not immediately respond to a request for comment.