Spotify Adds Verification Badges for Podcasts and Bans AI Impersonation

Spotify will start showing Verified by Spotify badges on select podcast shows on Tuesday, May 19. The badges will appear on show pages and in search results, identifying the official presence of a creator, publisher or brand. The company said the badges are an extension of a verification program it launched for music.

Additional badges will roll out over the coming months. To qualify, a podcast must show sustained listener activity, comply with platform policies, and demonstrate verified audience authenticity.

Spotify said it will remove podcast shows and content that impersonate another creator or host’s likeness without permission. The prohibition covers AI voice cloning and any other method. The company stated that its policies have always prohibited unauthorized impersonation.

A company representative said the update helps ensure creators remain in control of their identity and listeners can engage with content they know is real.

As of the end of the first quarter of 2026, about 7 million podcast titles were available on the platform. Spotify said the changes are the first in a series of steps to support a more trustworthy podcast ecosystem for creators, partners and listeners.