White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki urged Spotify on Tuesday to take more action against podcast host Joe Rogan after the platform announced it would tag alleged controversial episodes with a new warning label.
Psaki made the remarks in response to a question about Rogan from a reporter who asked if Spotify “should go further than” just applying a new warning label to content that they deem to be controversial.
“Well, last July, I, you probably know, but the Surgeon General also took the unprecedented step to issue an advisory on the risk of misinformation in public health, which is a very significant step,” Psaki said. “And amid that, he talked about the role social media platforms have, so our hope is that all major tech platforms, and all major news sources for that matter, be responsible and be vigilant to ensure the American people have access to accurate information on something as significant as COVID-19. That certainly includes Spotify.”
“So this disclaimer, it’s a positive step, but we want every platform to continue doing more to call out misinformation and disinformation will also uplifting, accurate information,” she continued, later adding: “But ultimately, you know, our view is it’s a, it’s a, it’s a good step. It’s a positive step, but there’s more that can be done.”
WATCH:
Psaki calls for more censorship after Spotify announces warning labels on COVID-19 content following leftist outrage over Joe Rogan:
"It's a good step. It's a positive step, but there's more that could be done." pic.twitter.com/AyXo0XMlqn
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) February 1, 2022
TRANSCRIPT:
REPORTER: Last week, the Surgeon General also was asked on MSNBC about Joe Rogan’s vaccine comments on Spotify. And he said that tech companies have an important role to play in stopping misinformation because they’re the predominant places where misinformation spreads. Spotify is putting out advisory warnings on episodes that have to do with COVID-19. Does the White House in the administration think this is a satisfactory step? Or think that companies like Spotify should go further than just, you know, putting a label on there to say, hey, go do your own, you know, check this out, you know, there’s more research, you can look at, you know, scientific research regarding COVID?
JEN PSAKI, PRESS SECRETARY: Sure. Well, last July, I, you probably know, but the Surgeon General also took the unprecedented step to issue an advisor on the risk of misinformation in public health, which is a very significant step. And amid that, he talked about the role social media platforms have, so our hope is that all major tech platforms, and all major news sources for that matter, be responsible and be vigilant to ensure the American people have access to accurate information on something as significant as COVID-19. That certainly includes Spotify. So this disclaimer, it’s a positive step, but we want every platform to continue doing more to call out misinformation and disinformation will also uplifting, accurate information. I mean, look at the facts, right? You are 16 times more likely to be hospitalized if you’re unvaccinated and 68 times more likely to die than someone who is boosted if you’re unvaccinated. That’s pretty significant. And we think that is something that unquestionably should be the basis of how people are communicating about it. But ultimately, you know, our view is it’s a, it’s a, it’s a good step. It’s a positive step, but there’s more that can be done.