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The connection between the gangster rappers and the criminal gangs is getting closer and closer.
At the same time, they depend on tech giants like Spotify and TikTok to spread their messages.
But Aftonbladet’s questions to the companies receive brief answers – or are met with compact silence.
Aftonbladet’s series on gangster rappers’ connection to the gangs shows that the relationship is closer than ever. Basically everyone in the Hip-Hop scene has to relate to the gangs and in some cases they almost become megaphones for criminal networks.
– Their content is seen by all categories of people on social media. It will be the best marketing channel for the gangs, says Martin Lazar, municipal police in Botkyrka.
But in order to spread their music and message to hundreds of thousands, the rappers are dependent on large platforms such as Spotify, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Voices are now being raised that the companies must take a more active part in the debate and come up with solutions.
But when Aftonbladet asks questions, we are met with brief answers – or silence.
Aftonbladet’s questions to the tech giants:
arrow How do you see rappers with connections to the gang environment using your platform to spread their music and messages to opponents?
arrow How do you see your responsibility in the Swedish gang wars? Are you responsible for the escalating wave of violence?
arrow Many children and young people take part in music and content produced by artists with close connections to the Swedish gang environment on your platform. How do you see it?
arrow Will you impose any restrictions on artists who are convicted of crimes or have a connection to the gang environment and the ongoing wave of violence?
The answers
Spotify
The answer is attributed to “a spokesperson” who writes in an email:
“Spotify is an open platform for creative and personal expression. We have a robust content policy that clarifies what you can and cannot express on the platform and do not hesitate to remove content that violates these rules, regardless of the sender. Thereby we handle content that is against Swedish law as well as content that encourages or glorifies serious physical harm to an individual or group, says a spokesperson at Spotify.
Meta (Instagram, Facebook)
Since September of this year, the company has closed its Swedish communications department and their former PR agency refers to an email address that leads to the American head office.
They don’t answer.
Google (Youtube)
Youtube also sends responses via email that must be attributed to a “spokesperson”. They write, among other things:
“We have clear rules for what can be found on YouTube and put significant resources into reviewing and acting on content that violates these. At the same time, it is important to protect YouTube’s role as an open platform.”
“In the work to identify and review content, we use a combination of advanced technology and human review. “
“We have established processes for how the police and other law enforcement agencies can directly flag to our teams if they find content that violates the law.”
TikTok
Aftonbladet has contacted their press department and asked for an answer or an interview with the company’s head of Sweden.
They have not returned.
“On the verge of cowardice”
According to Emil Arvidsson, music journalist and author of the book “Svensk gangsterrap”, there is a reluctance on the part of the companies to touch this debate.
– There is a great deal of anxiety, bordering on cowardice, about how to deal with this major social issue. Record companies, but above all platforms such as Spotify, Youtube and Tiktok, would also have to participate in the debate that the rest of society is trying to lead.