Should I boycott Deezer the same way I boycott Spotify because it has ties with Israel?
Executive summary
A direct, evidence-based comparison between Deezer and Spotify on the question of "ties with Israel" cannot be drawn from the materials provided: available reporting shows Deezer’s platform policies and catalogue content but does not document corporate ownership, investments, or formal "ties with Israel" that would mirror whatever prompted a Spotify boycott [1] [2] [3]. There are public claims on social platforms that Deezer appears on a BDS-style boycott list, but that assertion in the supplied material is an unverified social post rather than independent reporting [4].
1. What the documents actually show about Deezer’s platform and content
Deezer publicly hosts music and programmes that engage the Israel/Palestine dispute — for example track listings such as "Boycott Israel" by Ari Lesser and other songs titled "Boycott" are available on Deezer’s service [2] [5], and the platform carries a podcast called "Understanding Israel/Palestine" that frames itself as advocating an even-handed U.S. foreign policy [3]. Separately, Deezer has taken public product steps about generative AI on its platform, flagging AI-generated tracks and demonetising those that are algorithmically produced to protect artist royalties, a policy point unrelated to geopolitical ties but relevant to ethical-consumer decisions about the service [1].
2. Claims that Deezer is on a BDS list: source and reliability
There is a social-media post claiming Deezer is “on the BDS boycott list” because of the CEO’s stance; that post mixes product praise with the warning but is not a verified news report or an official BDS listing citation in the provided materials [4]. The single supplied citation is user-generated content on Threads and therefore cannot, by itself, establish the factual basis for a targeted boycott decision without corroboration from an authoritative boycott list or investigative reporting [4].
3. Context from broader music-industry boycotts
Artist-led streaming boycotts exist and are active: reporting about the musician-led "No Music for Genocide" initiative describes artists and labels asking distributors to geo-block music in Israel as a protest tactic and frames the movement’s aims and controversies, including claims and denials about genocide and diplomatic responses [6]. That broader movement shows one way consumers and artists pressure platforms and markets, but the supplied article does not link Deezer specifically to being targeted by that campaign nor does it document Deezer’s corporate posture in relation to the campaign [6].
4. How to decide whether to boycott — a practical framework based on available evidence
A principled boycott decision requires two elements: verifiable facts about the company’s conduct or relationships, and a clear mapping from those facts to one’s ethical standard. The available material documents Deezer’s catalogue choices and policy on AI-generated music [2] [5] [1] and records an unverified social-media claim about BDS-listing [4], but it does not document corporate ownership, investment ties to the Israeli state, or a CEO statement that would be the mirror image of the grievance motivating a Spotify boycott. Therefore, the supplied reporting does not provide the factual basis to conclude one should boycott Deezer for the same reasons used against Spotify — further, broader reporting or primary-source documentation would be needed to make that parity claim.
5. Alternative viewpoints and limits of the reporting
Advocates for boycott may argue that any platform that lists content, employs executives, or operates commercially with perceived links should be included in coordinated economic pressure; the social post suggests such a view by noting a supposed BDS listing [4]. Opponents — and Deezer’s public policy choices on artist protection and transparency about AI — might argue the platform is taking steps that protect creators rather than serve geopolitical agendas [1]. The supplied sources do not include Deezer corporate statements on Israel, nor independent confirmation of membership on an organized boycott list, so a conclusive recommendation either way exceeds the present reporting [4] [1].