- Technical platforms continue to offer podcasts that spread misinformation and violent rhetoric.
- The AP first reported that podcasts were a loophole for conspiracies, despite wider technical issues.
- Some are run by QAnon believers, claiming that they do election supporters, and that the riots in the Capitol were ‘staged’.
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Conspiracy theorists and pro-Trump extremists use podcasts presented on mainstream technology platforms to steal false information, despite widespread suppression of individual social media accounts that offend these ideas.
The AP first reported that podcasts on Apple, Spotify and Google proclaimed allegations that the U.S. election was impeccable, and that the riots in the U.S. Capitol were hosted on January 6, among others.
Insider also found that podcasts are readily available on all three platforms, claiming that President-elect Joe Biden was a scam.
The podcast “Red Pill News,” hosted by a user named RedPill78, describes the riots in the U.S. Capitol as a “staged event” in an episode that aired on January 11th. It’s still available on Apple Podcasts from January 17th.
The AP found another podcast, “X22 Report,” which said in one episode before the Capitol riots, “We the people, we are the storm, and we are coming to DC.” It’s also available on Google’s podcast platform from January 17th.
And Insider on Sunday found a third podcast called ‘Quite Frankly’ and hosted it on Spotify, Apple and Google, where the host described the election in an episode of January 16 as a ‘smelly, smelly, suspicious election’ in a wider conversation about free speech. ‘Quite Frankly’ also hosted RedPill78 in previous episodes.
Red Pill News on Apple’s podcasting site.
Insider
The continued availability of these podcasts is in contrast to the strict stance taken by several major technology companies to combat social media accounts, which are campaigning for conspiracies or programs that spread hatred in the aftermath of the January 6 riots.
For example, on January 10, Apple removed the alternative social network Parler from its App Store, saying that the firm had not done enough to moderate violent speech in the run-up to the riots. Pro-Trump rioters reportedly used Parler and other platforms to plan the uprising.
Google also banned Parler and explicitly banned some YouTube QAnon content in October. It has also announced that it will penalize accounts that post incorrect information.
Meanwhile, in November, Spotify banned ‘War Room’, a podcast hosted by former White House adviser Steve Bannon. The program was also suspended from Twitter and YouTube after Bannon suggested that the government’s pandemic expert, dr. Anthony Fauci, and FBI Director Christopher Wray are beheaded.
Although the X22 Report podcast is available via Apple, it has been suspended by YouTube, Spotify and Twitter. The description of the Red Pill News podcast also states that it is no longer available on YouTube.
A fourth podcast “SoulWarrior Uncensored” is hosted by self-proclaimed QAnon believer Melody Torres. According to the AP, she said she was uploaded from Twitter. The AP also reports that the podcast is still available on Apple and Google, but that it was removed after an investigation by Spotify’s news agency.
Oren Segal of ADL’s Center for Extremism told AP: “Podcasts filled with hatred and incitement to violence should not be treated any differently than any other content.
“If you are going to take a strong stand against hate and extremism on the platform at all, it has to be all-encompassing.”
Insider approached Spotify, Google and Apple for comment.