The Streaming Music Service hunts free version users who disable audio ads with blocking programs.
Ads blockers users are officially under the threat of outright exclusion from Spotify Free: this is revealed by the new terms of use of the online music service in their US version, as noted our colleagues from The Verge .
In March 2018, Spotify reported that two percent - or two million accounts - of its free version users were using ad blocking systems, effectively decreasing the company's advertising revenue.
If for a year Spotify claims to clean up accounts with bizarre behaviors, the firm was doing so for the time gradually: it began at first by blocking accounts followed by email inviting free riders to get into compliance, that is, uninstall ad blockers or upgrade to the paid version. Closing accounts only after a grace period.
With the new version of the US terms of use - the French version was not yet updated as we write these lines - the company reserves the right to close the account "immediately", without any warning email.
This increased pressure on fraudsters comes at a very special time for Spotify: 2018 is the first year the company has made money. A money that was largely spent in the acquisition of two companies specialized in the podcast (Gimlet Media and Anchor). To continue its growth, it is therefore crucial that the firm continues to earn cash - hence the hunt for small malignant.