Amar Ashar is a recognized leader in Trust & Safety, Responsible AI, and technology governance, currently heading the Product Trust Insights team at Spotify. In this role, Amar oversees a multidisciplinary group of data scientists and policy advisors who partner closely with product teams to deliver research-driven insights and actionable recommendations that advance safety, algorithmic responsibility, and trust in AI products across Spotify’s platform.
A trusted senior leader at Spotify, Amar has previously served as Head of Algorithmic Policy and in research roles shaping the company’s approach to algorithmic responsibility and auditing, regulatory compliance, model tooling and tracking, and policy development. He is known for building and scaling organizational capabilities that bridge the gap between AI/ML innovation and responsible product deployment, ensuring that safety and inclusion remain at the forefront of rapid technological change.
Beyond Spotify, Amar is a respected advisor and thought leader in the global Trust & Safety community. He serves as an advisor to the Trust & Safety Foundation, is an active member of the Trust & Safety Professionals Association and the Integrity Institute, and contributes to the Stanford Trust & Safety Teaching Consortium, helping to develop the next generation of integrity professionals.
Amar has led impact-oriented academic and research projects. As an assistant director of research and affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard, his work explored the ethics and governance of Artificial Intelligence with a particular emphasis on global inclusion, media and information quality, and the societal impacts of digital technologies. He has published influential research on online harm and hate speech, networked policymaking, and the design of trustworthy information environments. His collaborations span leading public and private institutions worldwide, including the World Economic Forum, Mozilla Foundation, UNICEF, and the MIT Media Lab.
Amar previously held fellowships and appointments at the Institute for Technology & Society, the Software Freedom Law Center, and Harvard University. He studied at Boston College and Harvard University.