Overview
- Spotify said at least one ICE recruitment spot ran on its service, described the placement as part of a broad U.S. government campaign, and stated the content complies with its ad policies.
- Recruitment ads have appeared across HBO Max, YouTube, Hulu, and Pandora, with users posting recordings and some listeners canceling subscriptions or urging boycotts.
- The messaging promotes incentives such as signing bonuses up to $50,000 and tuition repayment, targeting young people, veterans, and former law enforcement with city-specific appeals.
- DHS officials say the campaign has produced more than 175,000 applications and over 18,000 tentative job offers, with reporting placing recent ad spending above $6 million.
- The effort aligns with a plan to hire at least 10,000 deportation officers using a reported $30 billion allotment, and Spotify pointed to The Trade Desk as the intermediary delivering the ads.