Spotify has been no stranger to controversy over the past few years, with local bands pulling their music from the platform and rallying at in-person events around the Bay Area that proclaim "death to Spotify." Many of those protests surrounded poor royalty payments and outgoing CEO Daniel Ek's involvement in the military industrial complex; however, those disillusioned with the service now have another reason to consider other streaming options. Spotify is running an ad campaign for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Last month, AI startup Friend launched an eyebrow-raising advertising campaign in the New York City subway, which drew a striking amount of hatred. The largely white billboards left a convenient amount of room for passersby to air their feelings about the privacy-infringing tech. As such, it didn't take long for handwritten scribbles to cover the ads. "Befriend something alive," one pen-wielding tagger wrote. "AI wouldn't care if you lived or died," another vandal raged.
The placement of ads for Krispy Krunchy Chicken on the Carlos Santana mural outside the BART station elicited strong disapproval from the community, emphasizing a sense of disrespect.
Dove's advert featuring a trans model sparked backlash from right-wing groups, who accused the brand of promoting a 'sinful lifestyle' and called for a boycott.
