Neil Young never backs down from a fight. The legendary rocker has feuded with record labels, an oil pipeline and former bandmate David CrosbyYoung and Crosby's volatile relationship came to a head in 2014, after Crosby called Young's wife, actor Daryl Hannah, a "poisonous predator".. But this week he sized up his biggest target yet: SpotifyThe Swedish audio streaming platform has over 381 million monthly active users. It was named after one of its two founders misheard a name the other suggested..

Young has accused the streaming giant of "spreading fake information about vaccines". The prime offender? Podcaster Joe Rogan. Young demanded that Spotify either remove his music or Rogan's show. "They can have Rogan or Young", thundered the songwriter, "Not both."

Rogan has been attacked before for broadcasting lies about Covid-19. Earlier this month, over a thousand doctors and scientists urged Spotify to act against misinformationIncorrect or misleading information unintentionally presented as fact. It can be contrasted with disinformation or deliberate lies.. It was spurred by Rogan interviewing an anti-vaccine activist who claimed that Americans have been "hypnotised" into being vaccinated.

So far, Spotify has held firm. And yesterday, Young's catalogue vanished from the app. The choice was easy: the Joe Rogan Experience is Spotify's most-streamed podcast. The firm paid $100m for it and wants its money's worth.

Young's boycottTo withdraw relations from an organisation as a punishment or protest. The word comes from the surname of a Victorian Irish landlord who was subject to a boycott from poor farmers who demanded rent reduction. comes amid panic about misinformation. Twitter users are barred from sharing "false or misleading information about COVID-19 which may lead to harm." Apple Podcasts has a similar ban on all harmful content. But Spotify's policies contain nothing of the sort.

Broadcasting untruths is arguably immoral. But misinformation can be dangerous. In India, falsehoods spread on Facebook have been accused of fuelling anti-Muslim violence. Young's supporters argue that platforms should do everything they can to remove such harmful content.

But others are not so sure. They ask why Young - or Spotify - should have the power to decide what Rogan and his guests can say. To no-platformTo boycott a group or individual by removing the platforms through which they share information.  him is to take away his freedom of speechThe right to say, write and communicate thoughts and ideas without fear of censorship or reprisal., a basic human right. 

George WashingtonThe first US president, serving from 1789 to 1797.  said: "If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter." In recent years, right-wing commentators have suggested this is already happening. They accuse "snowflakesA term used by some right-wingers to attack left-wing activists, especially students, as easily offended. " of preventing people they disagree with from expressing their views.

Some disagree. Publishing used to be preserved for those who wrote for newspapers and magazines. If anything, the internet has allowed a much wider range of people to broadcast their opinions.

One thing is clear: this explosion of voices has helped misinformation to spread. And as the world deals with the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, many warn it is dangerous. As epidemiologist Jessica Malaty Rivera says: "We have an infodemic going on that is prolonging the pandemic and it is causing people to make bad choices and actually die."

Yes: Misinformation is the ill of our time. Powerful companies have a duty to fight it. By failing to take up its sword and prioritise profit over truth, Spotify has failed. It should be punished.

No: The press has always published opinion alongside fact. Why should podcasts be any different? It is naive to imagine a world without untruths and it is our own responsibility to choose what to believe.

Or... Boycotting Spotify would hurt all the artists who rely on it as a source of income. Instead of banning it completely, we should pressure it to clearly signpost podcasts that contain misinformation.