In summer 2023, Spotify faced backlash for removing Mohammad Assaf’s famous Palestinian anthem ‘Ana Dammi Falasteeni (My Blood is Palestinian). Assaf said he received an email from Spotify to say his song was removed from the platform for “inciting against Israel”, however a Spotify representative denied to Al Jazeera that they made this decision. Beyond this, new reports soon emerged of the Israeli lobby pressuring Spotify to remove pro-Palestinian music, including an attempt against Lowkey.
In 2020, Spotify appointed Emi Palmor to their Facebook Oversight Board, a former Director General at the Israel Ministry of Justice and founder of the Israeli Cyber Unit which was used to suppress Palestinian content on Facebook. As of 2023, Spotify also appointed Andrew Joseph, a former IOF Sergeant (Nahal Infantry Brigade), as their Senior Counsel in Legal and Business Affairs.