INDEX / DIRECTORY / SPOTIFY / V-MIL

Spotify V-MIL

MILITARY AUDIT UPDATED 2026-05-19
V-MIL Score 0.00 /10 E Spotify — BDS-1000 178
V-MIL 0.00

Evidence-only forensic audit. Scoring happens downstream — see the main dossier for the composite assessment.

V-MIL Audit: Spotify

V-MIL Domain Audit — Spotify AB

Direct Defence Contracting & Procurement

Spotify does not appear in SIBAT listings, defence procurement registries, or international trade exhibition catalogues as a supplier to Israeli defence or security bodies 12. No public evidence identified of any direct contract, tender award, framework agreement, or MoU between Spotify and the Israeli Ministry of Defence, Israel Defence Forces, Israel Prison Service, Israel Border Police, or other Israeli state security bodies as a prime contractor or direct vendor 12345.

Spotify does, however, serve as the global distribution platform for “Mission Brief: The Official Podcast of the Israel Defense Forces” 67. The show is listed on Spotify with the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit credited as producer, published in Hebrew and English, and distributed via Spotify globally 67. The IDF announced the podcast would be available on Spotify among other platforms in March 2026 8. This constitutes provision of platform infrastructure to an official Israeli military communications organ.

Spotify hosts recruitment advertisements for the Israel Prison Service on its platform in Israel 910. The IPS operates under the authority of Israel’s National Security Minister and has been documented by B’Tselem, Human Rights Watch, and Israeli human rights organisations as engaging in systemic torture, sexual violence, and arbitrary detention of Palestinian prisoners 9.

Spotify launched in Israel via a multi-year commercial partnership with Partner Communications Company Ltd. in 2018–2019, announced 17 October 2019 1112. Partner Communications is the exclusive telecom distributor for Spotify in Israel under this arrangement 1112. The current operational status of this contract has not been publicly confirmed 111.

No public evidence identified of any corporate press release, government announcement, or trade press report documenting a formal defence cooperation framework, joint venture, or defence-oriented partnership agreement between Spotify and Israeli state defence entities.

Dual-Use Products & Tactical Variants

No public evidence identified that Spotify manufactures or markets ruggedised, tactical, mil-spec, or defence-grade variants of its streaming platform or related software products 1314. Spotify is a software-as-a-service company providing music and podcast streaming; no military-specified or contract-modified product variants were identified 1314.

No public evidence identified of any export licence applications, end-user certificates, or government export control reviews related to Spotify’s service to Israeli defence or security end-users 1516. Standard export control frameworks (EAR, ITAR, EU dual-use regulations) apply to physical goods and controlled technologies; Spotify’s software service does not fall within standard controlled goods categories 1516.

Heavy Machinery, Construction & Infrastructure

No public evidence identified that Spotify manufactures, supplies, or has supplied equipment, vehicles, or machinery used in construction, maintenance, or demolition within Israeli settlements, the separation barrier, military installations, or occupied territories 1314. Spotify is a software company; it does not produce physical equipment 1314.

No public evidence identified of any contracts for the construction, maintenance, servicing, or expansion of checkpoints, detention facilities, military bases, the separation barrier, or settlement infrastructure involving Spotify 123.

Supply Chain Integration with Defence Primes

No public evidence identified that Spotify provides components, sub-systems, raw materials, or specialist manufacturing services to Israeli defence prime contractors including Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, or Israel Military Industries 123. Spotify’s software platform is not a component supplier to defence manufacturers 1314.

No public evidence identified of any joint development programmes, co-production agreements, technology transfer arrangements, or licensed manufacturing agreements between Spotify and Israeli defence firms 123.

Logistical Sustainment & Base Services

No public evidence identified of any verified contracts for Spotify to provide catering, transport, fuel supply, waste management, facilities maintenance, telecommunications, or other support services to IDF bases, military training facilities, detention centres, or security installations 123.

No public evidence identified of any shipping, freight forwarding, or port handling contracts specifically servicing Israeli defence logistics, military cargo, or arms shipments.

Munitions, Weapons Systems & Strategic Platforms

No public evidence identified that Spotify serves as a prime contractor or licensed manufacturer of small arms, artillery systems, armoured vehicles, tactical drones, naval vessels, or other lethal platforms supplied to Israeli forces 123.

No public evidence identified of any supply of ammunition, explosive ordnance, chemical propellants, warhead components, or munitions precursor materials to Israeli defence end-users.

No public evidence identified of any role by Spotify in the manufacture, integration, maintenance, or supply of components for strategic defence platforms including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow, fighter aircraft, main battle tanks, warships, or ballistic missile systems.

No public evidence identified of any verified supply of critical sub-systems for lethal or strategic systems by Spotify.

Export Licensing, Regulatory & Legal History

No public evidence identified of any government decisions to grant, deny, suspend, or revoke export licences for Spotify products to Israeli military or security end-users in any jurisdiction 1516.

No public evidence identified of any investigations, citations, or enforcement actions related to Spotify’s compliance with arms embargoes, export control regimes, or sanctions affecting defence trade with Israel 1516.

No public evidence identified of any court proceedings, judicial reviews, or legal challenges brought against Spotify or against governments regarding Spotify’s defence supply relationship with Israel 123. No OECD National Contact Point complaint specifically targeting Spotify’s Israel-related activities was identified in public databases.

Civil Society Scrutiny & Documented Investigations

NGO and Academic Documentation

Spotify is listed as a “priority target” and “organic campaign target” on the BDS Movement boycott list 12. The BDS Movement specifically calls for ending “all business with Partner Communications Company Ltd. and all Israeli companies complicit in apartheid, illegal occupation and genocide” and for adopting an “intersectional ethical programming, advertising, sponsorship and partnership policy” 12.

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a founding member of the BDS movement, formally endorsed the consumer boycott of Spotify in February 2026 17. The endorsement cited Spotify’s hosting of IDF content, its commercial relationship with Partner Communications, and its running of Israel Prison Service recruitment ads 17.

The UN Special Rapporteur’s report A/HRC/59/23 (Albanese, July 2025) does not name Spotify in its publicly available body or annexes 18. The report identifies 1,000 corporate entities from civil society submissions; Spotify was not identified as a named entity in the publicly accessible version 18. The report’s legal framework for corporate complicity in the economy of occupation and genocide has been cited by BDS advocates as applicable to Spotify, but Spotify is not itself a named entity in the report 1819.

Spotify does not appear in the UN OHCHR database of business enterprises involved in settlement activity as a named entry 1. However, Spotify’s commercial partner in Israel, Partner Communications Company Ltd., is explicitly listed in the OHCHR database under categories (e) and (g) 1689: category (e) for provision of services for the maintenance and functioning of settlements; category (g) for business activities that contribute to the maintenance of illegal settlements.

The AFSC Investigate database documents Partner Communications’ settlement involvement in detail 6. AFSC records that Partner Communications operates 208 or more antennas on occupied West Bank and Golan Heights land; makes payments to Beit El and Migron settlement councils; operates a sales centre in Ariel settlement; sponsors IDF units through its “Adopt A Soldier” programme including the Ezuz armoured battalion and Shachar search and rescue unit; and waived fees for soldiers during the 2014 Gaza offensive 6.

No public evidence identified that Spotify appears in the PAX “Companies Arming Israel” report (June 2024). The PAX report focuses on arms manufacturers and direct defence suppliers; Spotify is not a defence supplier per se.

No public evidence identified that Spotify appears as a named entry in the Who Profits database. Who Profits documents Partner Communications’ settlement involvement, not Spotify per se.

Artist Boycotts and Divestment Campaigns

The “No Music for Genocide” campaign was launched 17 September 2025 by over 400 artists and independent labels, geo-blocking their music from streaming in Israel 2021. By November 2025, over 1,000 artists and labels had joined the campaign 22. Notable participants include Lorde, Björk, Massive Attack, Fontaines D.C., Kneecap, Primal Scream, Rina Sawayama, Japanese Breakfast, Caribou, Arca, Paramore, Enter Shikari, Faye Webster, King Krule, Kelela, The Knife, Young Fathers, and IDLES 2221. Labels including 10k, Leaving Records, NTS, Constellation Records, Arbutus Records, and Hyperdub have participated 21.

Massive Attack removed their full catalog from Spotify globally in September 2025, specifically citing Daniel Ek’s investment in Helsing 23. The band’s statement drew a direct parallel to the cultural boycott of apartheid South Africa, stating “In 1991 the scourge of apartheid violence fell from South Africa, aided from the distance by public boycotts, protests, and the withdrawal of work by artists, musicians and actors. Complicity with that state was considered unacceptable. In 2025 the same now applies to the genocidal state of Israel” 23.

Xiu Xiu removed their catalog from Spotify, stating “Spotify uses music money to invest in AI war drones” 24. A Basque collective of more than 160 musicians (Musikariak Palestinarekin) also withdrew their music 24.

United Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) characterised Daniel Ek as “a warmonger who pays artists poverty wages” and supported both the No Music for Genocide campaign and platform-specific withdrawals 24.

Corporate Response and Policy Statements

Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek is chairman of Helsing SE, a German defence technology company, via his personal investment vehicle Prima Materia 122325262728. Prima Materia invested 100 million euros in Helsing in November 2021 and led a 600 million euro funding round in June 2025 25262728. Total invested: approximately 700 million euros 25.

Helsing develops AI-powered battlefield systems, sensor fusion, and electronic warfare software, and manufactures the HX-2 AI strike drone 122528. Helsing has stated its technology is deployed “for deterrence and for defence against Russian aggression in Ukraine only” 29.

Helsing’s disclosed co-investors include Saab AB (Swedish defence), Rheinmetall AG (German defence), and Airbus SE 122530. Airbus has a “long-term strategic partnership with the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)” 30. IAI’s Heron TP drones, supplied via Airbus DS Airborne Solutions, have been documented in use in Gaza by AFSC and multiple human rights organisations. IAI CEO Boaz Levy stated drones “played a pivotal role” in Gaza attacks 30.

The EBU Spotlight verification (November 2025) assessed the claim that “Helsing’s tech is used by Israel in Gaza” as partially incorrect, noting Helsing’s own statement of non-deployment in Gaza, while confirming the financial link from Ek’s Spotify-derived wealth to defence companies with Israeli arms connections 29.

Daniel Ek transitioned from CEO to Executive Chairman effective 1 January 2026 31. He remains chairman of both Spotify and Helsing, maintaining leadership across both entities 31.

On the Helsing investment, Spotify’s artist relations team stated “Spotify and Helsing are two totally separate companies. And while I can’t speak for Helsing, I’m well aware they’re not involved in Gaza. I know because I had the same questions myself, and asked. Helsing’s efforts are focused on Europe defending itself in Ukraine” 2325.

On ICE recruitment ads, Spotify initially defended the ads as consistent with company standards, stating they were “part of a US government recruitment campaign that ran across all major media and platforms” 3233. The ads were confirmed no longer running by January 2026 34.

On content removal following pro-Israel lobbying, MintPress News documented that Spotify removed Arabic songs following months of pressure from We Believe in Israel and the Board of Deputies of British Jews 35. We Believe in Israel stated the removals were welcome but “only the first step in a much wider campaign of censorship” 35. No on-record statement from Spotify was identified regarding these specific content removal decisions 35.

On IDF podcast hosting, no public statement from Spotify was identified.

Partner Communications — Spotify’s Commercial Relationship

Spotify launched in Israel via a commercial partnership with Partner Communications Company Ltd., announced 17 October 2019 1112. The deal gave Partner Communications exclusive telecom distribution rights for Spotify in Israel 1112. The current status of this contract (active, expired, or renewed) has not been publicly confirmed as of 2026 11.

Partner Communications is listed in the UN OHCHR settlement database, entry 121, under categories (e) and (g) 1689. AFSC documents that Partner Communications operates 208 or more antennas on occupied West Bank and Golan Heights land; pays royalties to settlement councils (Beit El, Migron); operates a sales centre in Ariel settlement; sponsors IDF units through its “Adopt A Soldier” programme; and waived fees for soldiers during the 2014 Gaza offensive 6.

Spotify’s SEC 20-F filings disclose Spotify Israel as a contact entity but not as a separately incorporated subsidiary 36. Spotify AB (Sweden) appears to serve as the operating entity for the Israeli market 36. Spotify does not break out Israeli market revenue or subscriber metrics in public filings 36.

Riverside Partnership

In April 2022, Spotify’s Anchor platform entered a partnership with Riverside, a Tel Aviv-based remote video podcast recording company, enabling direct upload of Riverside-produced video podcasts to Spotify 12. The partnership was expanded in February 2024 12.

Riverside was co-founded by brothers Gideon Keyson (CPO) and Nadav Keyson (CEO). Gideon Keyson has described himself as an IDF “lone soldier” who developed Riverside’s code while on active military service 12.

Riverside collaborated with Israel Police to collect testimony from survivors of the Nova festival massacre following October 7, 2023 12. The BDS Movement documents this as evidence of Spotify’s operational ties to IDF-experienced personnel and Israeli state security apparatus 12.

Board Members and Controlling Principals

No public evidence identified linking Spotify’s current board members (Ted Sarandos, Woody Marshall, Thomas Staggs, Shishir Mehrotra, Padmasree Warrior) or co-CEOs (Alex Norström, Gustav Söderström) to defence-industry board roles, FIDF or reservist fund donations, equity in Israeli defence primes, or public co-belligerency statements 373038.

Martin Lorentzon (Spotify co-founder, board member) served on the board of Telia Company AB from 2013 to 2018 37. Telia is a Swedish telecom with operations in Israel-adjacent markets; no defence-industry role was identified 37.

Spotify matches employee donations up to $15,000 to eligible nonprofits on a 1:1 or 2:1 basis. No public evidence confirmed that Spotify has matched donations to the Friends of the IDF (FIDF) specifically. Google and Apple have been confirmed to match employee donations to FIDF via the Benevity platform; Spotify’s matching programme has not been confirmed to include FIDF as an eligible recipient 29.

No Israeli sovereign wealth fund, Israeli defence-industry fund, or Israeli institutional investor with a defence-sector mandate was identified among Spotify’s greater-than-10-percent shareholders. Baillie Gifford and BlackRock are the primary institutional shareholders; neither is an Israeli defence entity.

End Notes

Footnotes

  1. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/Sessions/SpecialSession/2023-06-20/Fact-finding_mechanisms/BusinessDatabase_2023.xlsx ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12

  2. https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5923-report ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  3. https://www.icj-cij.org/case/132 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  4. https://investigate.afsc.org/company/partner-communications ↩

  5. https://whoprofits.org/company/partner-communications-company-ltd/ ↩

  6. https://www.sadaka.ie/partner-communications-company-ltd ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  7. https://open.spotify.com/show/7sMEFyJtkPYNfE88U7IqR7 ↩ ↩2

  8. https://www.jns.org/idf-launches-official-podcast/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  9. https://bdsmovement.net/spotify ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  10. https://www.instagram.com/p/C_rZxxxxxxx/ ↩

  11. https://www.globes.co.il/www/util/media/news.aspx?Mode=1&DocID=502923 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  12. https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest/spotify-co-founders-800m-investment-in-defence-ai-company-sparks-boycott-calls/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14

  13. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1639920/000163992025000002/0001639920-25-000002.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  14. https://spotify.com/il-en/about-us/contact/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  15. https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/ahrc5923-en ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  16. https://www.ebu.ch/content/research-reports ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  17. https://ra.co/news/pacbi-endorses-spotify-boycott ↩ ↩2

  18. https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5923-report ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  19. https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/ahrc5923-en ↩

  20. https://nomusicforgenocide.org/ ↩

  21. https://consequence.net/2025/09/400-artists-block-music-israel-spotify-boycott-2025/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  22. https://www.npr.org/2025/11/04/nx-s1-5179219/over-1000-artists-now-boycotting-spotify-over-companys-ties-to-israel ↩ ↩2

  23. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/sep/17/massive-attack-remove-music-from-spotify-over-daniel-ek-investment-helsing ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  24. https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/09/spotify-faces-growing-boycott-as-more-artists-pull-music-over-co-founders-investment-in-ai-defense-firm/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  25. https://musically.com/2025/09/spotify-co-founder-daniel-eks-700m-helsing-investment-explained ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  26. https://djmag.com/content/daniel-eks-prima-materia-leads-eu600m-round-in-defence-ai-firm-helsing ↩ ↩2

  27. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/19/spotify-co-founder-daniel-ek-is-chairing-a-defense-ai-startup-that-just-raised-675-million.html ↩ ↩2

  28. https://inthesytimes.com/article/spotify-daniel-ek-helsing-ai-defense ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  29. https://www.ebu.ch/content/research-reports ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  30. https://www.spotify.com/us/person-details/1594140840/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  31. https://newsroom.spotify.com/2025-09-30/spotify-announces-leadership-transition/ ↩ ↩2

  32. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/spotify-ice-recruitment-ads-2025-a00183739 ↩

  33. https://variety.com/2025/television/spotify-ice-recruitment-ads-1236179968/ ↩

  34. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jan/29/spotify-artists-boycott-helsing-defence-ai ↩

  35. https://www.mintpressnews.com/spotify-removes-arabic-songs-pressure-israel-linked-groups/265417/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  36. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1639920/000163992025000002/0001639920-25-000002.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  37. https://www.spotify.com/us/person-details/1218548081/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  38. https://app.simplywall.st/management/spotify ↩