Apple Podcasts has allowed multiple QAnon shows on its platform, despite its rules

Apple Podcasts is allowing multiple shows that have promoted the QAnon conspiracy theory to use its platform, despite rules that would seem to prohibit these shows.

According to Apple Podcasts’ content guidelines, the service prohibits content “that may lead to harmful or dangerous outcomes” and content that “is likely to humiliate, intimidate, harass, or harm individuals or groups or includes specific threats of violence against certain groups or individuals.”

The QAnon conspiracy theory revolves around an anonymous account known as “Q,” and some of its supporters have been tied to violent incidents and participated in the January 6 insurrection at the United States Capitol. Multiple government agencies have also issued internal warnings of domestic terrorism regarding supporters of the conspiracy theory.

Despite the platform’s rules, QAnon’s ties to violence, and government warnings about its supporters, a Media Matters review has found multiple QAnon-supporting shows and figures on the platform. Media Matters reported that several of these shows were on the platform back in 2020 — X22 Report, RedPill78, The Tore Says Show, and Woke Societies — yet they have remained. Some have also appeared to make positive remarks related to the January 6 Capitol insurrection. ​​The shows and figures found in the review are:

  • BardsFM, a QAnon show hosted by Scott Kesterson, who has called those who were arrested for allegedly participating in the Capitol insurrection “patriots” and who has reportedly coordinated with a QAnon militia group.

Besides hosting these QAnon shows, the platform also appears to be algorithmically recommending them to users, with some showing up under the “You Might Also Like” section when on the pages for many of these shows.