[Playlists] Solution to false/abusive reporting

[CloudlightRec]

Whenever someone reports a playlist - the title and cover art are removed immediately. This is often abused to hurt record labels and playlist curators. After contacting support - the account of someone who abused this system gets taken down. This person then creates another email and free Spotify account and repeats the process. 

There is a simple solution to the problem - enable reporting feature only after 10 hours of music/podcasts were streamed using the account. It won't change the experience for a normal user but makes copyright abuse impractical. It's cheap and easy to implement and would stop 95% of false claims.

Thank you for your consideration. 

[Nanio]

Let's keep on pushing this thread and also let our followers know that they should upvote this idea.

[elseomena]

I think it's ridiculous that there is absolutely no way to contact Spotify about this. I reached out here a while ago (after emailing and messaging them on Twitter, to no avail) because the reporting continued - and still continues after a short break - even when my playlist is set to secret. I know the 'secret' option has never been that effective but these people don't seem to have any real goal besides non-stop trolling. Very frustrating...

[glencornell7]

I am having this same issue, and Spotify support has not restored my content even after removing it and now confirming that the report was an error.

As soon as I hit 15,000 followers someone reported my playlist. Because my playlist was very niche, it really seems like the report was done by the owner of a very similar playlist. Either way, I responded to the email that my playlist was reported in error. After 3 days, Spotify agreed and determined that my content was reported "in error" they informed me that I could repost the content myself if I wish. Not that they restored the content for me in the same way that they removed the content in the first place, and not even an apology for the entire process. It's been a full week now, and I still haven't heard back from my multiple requests for them to assist in reposting the content for me... why? Because I no longer have the playlist image that I originally used over a year ago, so I'm not able to repost it! I also don't remember the description that I had written, which now I need to re-write!

Spotify just deleted my stuff and has so far just left me to go and figure it out, ALL FROM A FALSE REPORT. It's infuriating and honestly the worst handling of an issue I've experienced from a company that I mistakenly thought better of. Have you all had similar experiences? Are they requiring you to repost your own content or are they handling these situations differently fro different people?

Everyone, please share examples of support tickets so that we can get a better collective understanding for Spotify's internal support playbook on how to handle these issues and hold them accountable. I've posted the response that I've received below:

  

Spotify, if you are going to automate this process and assume guilt, then you should keep internal records of the folks who are making false reports and remove their ability to do this. Maybe a grace period, if you reinstate a playlist (after making sure the claim is false) maybe you don't let it go down again automatically for some period of time (IE: 30 days). But in the least, you need to fix the problems you break when you break them automatically, in the least you should restore the content you delete!

[Lukas40]

Hello. I have the same problem. One of the playlists reported several times a day. I wrote to SPOTIFY, but I have the impression that I am calling the autoresponder 😞 Be help, and today I received a message from SPOTIFY that they are restricting my account, here is the content of the email from SPOTIFY:

"The Spotify Terms and Conditions of Use prohibit the uploading of any content that infringes upon the rights of a third party and any violations may result in termination of your ability to upload content or your Spotify account.

Our records indicate that we have received repeated claims that your uploaded content is infringing. Therefore, your ability to post content has been revoked. If you do not agree or cannot comply, please stop using the Spotify services and cancel any subscriptions."""

Please Help Me ! :((( 

[Lukas40]

Unfortunately Today, SPOTIFY blocked my account :((

All because of FALSE Reporting.

Please help with this!

[Nanio]

Hey Lukas,

that is devastating news - I'm so sorry to hear that. Can you maybe link to the content you uploaded and tell us how you have the copyright for this so that we can maybe help you build your case?

[Lukas40]

Hello.

I'm waiting for the support response, I wrote another email, in addition, one of the moderators also asked me to send a link to the deleted playlist.

Everything was by the rules, and the worst part is Spotify treated me like a thief: (((

I hope that someone from the support will take a look at my case. I am waiting for the problem to be solved, if I have any information, I will inform you.

[Lukas40]

The situation is similar to that of other users. One of my playlists (+/- 500 subscibers) was reported. 60-70 entries in total. Each time I added the playlist description again. I also sent a written statement to SPOTIFY scan that I created the cover myself in a graphics program - it was an inscription "CLUB MIX PARTY 2021" on a green background.

I wrote to the support many times asking what exactly is going on, what is wrong with my playlist. Is the title bad? Is the cover inappropriate? However, I didn't get the right answer.

I also got twice the answer from the support that the application was incorrect and they apologize for the situation.

Yesterday I received information that my account has been limited and I can not create new playlists, change descriptions ... 😞 

I do not agree with this and will try to explain it.

Greetings

[Nanio]

That sounds like a bad mistake indeed! The only copyright infringements I can think of with a cover like this could be using a font for which you do not have the license or referring to any large brands in your description. However, as you said that Spotify has already told you that it was taken down in error...damn... I'm really sorry to hear that and hope that it gets fixed soon. Please keep us in the loop and tell all your friends to vote on this idea. Together we can create change!

[Lukas40]

I am still waiting for the answer from the support, it will probably take a while, I hope that I will finally see it.

Before that, I didn't know that so many users had problems with these fake reports.

I have done nothing wrong and just want to clarify this situation.

Thank you and best regards!