Spotify Playlist Leak Hits Politicians, Tech Executives

The website 'Panama Playlists' has exposed the Spotify listening habits of prominent U.S. politicians, tech executives such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and journalists by scraping publicly available playlists, live listening feeds, and track histories since summer 2024. High-profile figures affected include Vice President JD Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The site revealed that playlists featured pop hits like the Backstreet Boys' 'I Want It That Way' and Justin Bieber's 'One Time,' as well as personal playlists such as Leavitt's 'Baby Shower' collection. While some individuals confirmed their playlists, the authenticity of all accounts has not been independently verified. Spotify has stated that scraping public playlists violates its terms of service, though the data obtained was publicly accessible. The exposure has reignited concerns about digital privacy and the security of personal data on streaming platforms.