# Spotify’s search rankings were gamed by fake podcasts.
A joint report released on June 11, 2026 by the House Energy and Commerce Committee documented 27,839 fabricated podcast listings that linked to illegal pharmacy and scam websites. The podcasts were engineered to appear in Spotify’s search results, effectively acting as SEO bait. Spotify responded that it was reviewing the findings and would remove any violating content.
The discovery matters because Spotify’s podcast platform is a major discovery channel for audio content. Using it to funnel users to illegal drug sites undermines consumer safety and raises questions about the platform’s content oversight.
The episode adds to a growing list of abuse cases where large media platforms become inadvertent highways for illicit trade, reminding regulators that even niche search functions can be weaponized.