Spotify Acquires Content Moderation Firm Kinzen to Detect Harmful Content

Audio-streaming service Spotify Technology on Wednesday mentioned it had acquired Kinzen, a agency that has helped it establish dangerous content material on the platform.

The acquisition is a part of Spotify’s efforts to cope with dangerous content material on its service after a backlash earlier this yr over “The Joe Rogan Experience”, by which the podcaster was accused of spreading misinformation about COVID-19.

The Dublin-based agency has been working with Spotify since 2020, initially specializing in the integrity of election-related content material around the globe. Since then, Kinzen’s remit has expanded to incorporate focusing on misinformation, disinformaton and hate speech.

“Kinzen offers a combination of tools and expertise to help us better understand the content on our platform and emerging abuse trends,” said Sarah Hoyle, Spotify’s head of belief and security.

Deal phrases weren’t disclosed.

Earlier this yr, Spotify mentioned it might be extra clear in the way it determines what is appropriate and unacceptable content material. It revealed its platform guidelines for the primary time in January. In June, it fashioned a Safety Advisory Council to offer enter on dangerous content material.

Kinzen will present early warnings about issues in numerous markets, serving to Spotify extra successfully average content material in additional languages.

In different information, Spotify just lately introduced the launch of a brand new audiobooks service within the US. Under the brand new initiative, the streaming service will provide over 3,00,000 titles. Users within the US will now be capable to discover audiobooks as a separate part on Spotify alongside music and podcasts of their library, in search, and of their curated suggestions on the Spotify house web page.

The Sweden-based firm introduced in a blog post that customers can uncover audiobooks within the Spotify app, and can be redirected to buy them on the corporate’s web site. Once bought, the audiobook will stay accessible from the consumer’s library.

© Thomson Reuters 2022