Spotify have said that recruitments ads for ICE that refer to “dangerous illegals” do not violate their advertising policy.
The controversial US government agency, which is partially responsible for carrying out President Donald Trump’s policy for the mass detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants, has been running a series of ads on the streaming platform encouraging US residents to become ICE agents.
The video includes the quote: “You took an oath to protect and serve, to keep your family, your city, safe. But in sanctuary cities, you’re ordered to stand down while dangerous illegals walk free.”
The Independent has reported that 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”.
Many Spotify users have nevertheless complained about the presence of the ads on the service, with some saying they are cancelling their subscriptions as a result. See some reactions here:
Cancel SPOTIFY. They are running ICE ads. F them.https://t.co/6Vg8yTB6Hn
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) October 19, 2025
Spotify has proven time and time again that they simply do not care about their artists and users. all the AI, military BS, and now ICE ads, it is time to drop Spotify and move to Tidal, Qobuz, hell even apple music is a better option.
— Green Rob 🐢 (@throwitinfifth) October 17, 2025
I’ll be moving to Apple Music since @Spotify has decided to allow ICE RECRUITMENT ADS.
Usually I wouldn’t announce my departure, but this is just gross.
To anyone who wants to follow, Apple now has a transfer tool to make switching seamless. pic.twitter.com/yNgHDnEp10
— TØP Merch Alerts (@TOPMerchAlerts) October 16, 2025
Recommended
Fuck @Spotify for supporting ICE pic.twitter.com/UcMkWUIRVJ
— Jayko 🖤 (@jayk000000) October 11, 2025
There have been multiple reports of abuse and mistreatment of detainees in ICE facilities, including of pregnant women and children (via The Guardian). US Senator Jon Ossoff’s office have also published data showing “at least 510 instances” of physical and sexual abuse.
Many artists have spoken out against ICE this year, including Bad Bunny, who witnessed an ICE raid in Puerto Rico in June and later declared his world tour would not hit the United States as he was afraid of ICE agents raiding the shows.
Olivia Rodrigo, Addison Rae and Shakira are among other artists to voice their opposition to ICE’s actions, and the agency was recently forced to take down a propaganda video that was soundtracked by The Cure’s ‘Friday I’m In Love’.
Hundreds of artists have also joined a campaign calling for the abolition of ICE amid widespread protests against the agency, while Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello recently shared a ‘Fuck ICE’ playlist, which you can check out here.
As for Spotify, they hosted a brunch a day before Trump’s inauguration in January, and donated $150,000 (£112,181) to the inauguration ceremony. The brunch celebrated the “power of podcasts in this election” and invited Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro and others.
Spotify has also come under attack in recent months from some artists, including King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, who removed all of their music from the platform due to its then-CEO Daniel Ek “investing millions in AI military drone technology”. They have since uploaded all of their albums to Bandcamp. Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof are among the other artists to withdraw from Spotify.
Ek has since announced he is stepping down as Spotify CEO, as of January 1, 2026. He claimed the move is to allow him to focus on other businesses, and he will be replaced by chief business officer Alex Norström and VP of the product and technology unit, Gustav Söderström.
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