Spotify has taken certain steps in response to Russia’s military action against Ukraine, including the indefinite closure of its offices in Russia. The company has not banned access to its services within Russia.
A Spotify representative said in a statement provided to Variety: “We believe it is critical to work to keep our services operating in Russia to allow for the flow of information globally.
Like other internet platforms, Spotify has restricted the discoverability of Russian state-affiliated content on the streaming audio service. In addition, the company removed all content from Kremlin-backed news organizations RT and Sputnik from its platform.
The audio streaming giant said it is providing individual support to Spotify employees in the region and the Ukrainian employee community around the world.
Spotify said its teams have censored a significant amount of content since Russia’s military campaign against Ukraine began. On Wednesday, the company launched a new guide on the Spotify platform that will provide users from around the world with a localized source of “trusted news.”
Additionally, Spotify is matching employee donations on a two-to-one basis to support local humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. “We are exploring other steps we can take and will continue to do what is in the best interest of our employees and our audience,” the company spokesman said.
It is reported that Spotify launched the service in Russia and Ukraine and 10 other European countries in July 2020.