Spotify removes Kremlin-backed content and closes Russia office
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Spotify has closed its office in Russia and removed content from Kremlin-backed outlets RT and Sputnik, Variety reports. In addition, it's also restricting the discoverability of content from other outlets affiliated with the Russian government. Reuters reports that RT and Sputnik's content has been removed in several markets including the United States and European Union, but not in Russia itself. In total, Spotify says it's reviewed thousands of pieces of content since the start of the war.
Closing Spotify's Russian office means that the company is no longer in compliance with a Russian law from July 2021 which obliges foreign social media companies with over 500,000 daily users to have a local office in the country. Failing to comply...