Spotify, the world’s leading music streaming platform, is facing intense criticism and boycott calls following CEO Daniel Ek’s announcement of a €600m ($702m) investment in Helsing, a German defence startup specialising in AI-powered combat drones and military software.
The move, announced on 17 June, has sparked widespread outrage from musicians, activists and social media users who accuse Ek of funnelling profits from music streaming into the military industry.
Many have started calling on users to cancel their subscriptions to the service.
“Finally cancelling my Spotify subscription – why am I paying for a fuckass app that works worse than it did 10 years ago, while their CEO spends all my money on technofascist military fantasies?” said one user on X.
I empathize with the sentiment and agree with the argument that Europe should invest in its own defense infrastructure, particularly if Putin is gearing up to make a move.
That being said, Im increasingly wary of Europe’s willingness to appease Trump, and find it probable that, if right-wing parties continue making political gains, this same infrastructure will be turned against marginalized communities in these same countries; in a similar vein to the U.S regime’s attacks against immigrants and dissenters.
Again, I’m not opposed to re-armament, but I hope EU citizens exercise more vigilance and skepticism in this era of resurging nationalism and protectionism.
Everyone knows what Trump is. Trump is demanding an increase in military spending with the expectation that the money will go to the US. He’s basically demanding tribute.
Saying “sure we’ll spend more on defense” while spending on our own defense industry is calling his bluff while also getting ready for if and when he starts using the US military to bully allies.
Nobody else in the world needs to be lectured about the problems with the US military industrial complex. We know.