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Pirate group Anna’s Archive says it has scraped 86 million songs from Spotify
Anna’s Archive claims to have scraped 86 million songs from Spotify, representing 99.6% of the platform's listenings. Although Spotify has around 256 million tracks, only metadata was released so far, with the full library intended for torrent distribution. Spotify is actively combatting this piracy and enhancing security measures to protect creators' rights.
Key points
- Anna's Archive scraped 86 million songs from Spotify, targeting the entirety of its library.
- The group's collection holds metadata for approximately 99.9% of Spotify's tracks.
- Only metadata has been released, with the intention to distribute music files via torrents.
- Spotify identified and disabled accounts involved in scraping, implementing safeguards against copyright infringements.
- Anna’s Archive focuses on archiving various media types, including music, as part of its mission to preserve cultural knowledge.
Why it matters
- The rise of digital piracy and contemporary debates surrounding copyright laws and intellectual property protection.
- The increase in music streaming platforms, which has sparked concerns over the preservation and accessibility of digital music.
- Trends in 2025 regarding decentralization of media, open access, and the protection of cultural content from piracy.
Anna’s Archive's actions highlight ongoing conflicts between digital preservation efforts and copyright protections, raising important questions about the future of cultural archiving and the integrity of content on streaming platforms.