Tobacco giant accused of ‘manipulating science’ to attract non-smokers
GuardianJun 29
Report: Tobacco Giant 'Manipulated Science' for Profit
Image copyright: Ramin Talaie/Contributor/Corbis Historical via Getty Images
The Facts
Tobacco giant Philip Morris International (PMI) and its Japanese affiliate, Philip Morris Japan (PMJ), are accused of “manipulating science for profit,” according to researchers at the UK's University of Bath.
Citing 23 documents from 2012 to 2020, the Nicotine and Tobacco Control Research Group claims that the world’s largest tobacco company secretly funded a study on smoking cessation via a third-party organization, behavior that typically suggests strategies to influence scientific studies.
The Spin
Narrative A
Big tobacco companies like Philip Morris have been engaging in a two-faced strategy for decades as they look to keep profits high amid heavy scrutiny of the industry. Scientific consensus shows that smoking is a harmful habit, yet PMI still engages in the shadowy funding of false scientific research to promote counter-scientific policy initiatives. This unscrupulous behavior demonstrates Big Tobacco’s complete disregard for ethics, and Philip Morris must be held accountable.
Narrative B
Philip Morris is committed to creating smoke-free products that will help create a world free of cigarettes. For many years, the company has shifted its business strategy and developed new products that will allow sustainable success and health. By investing heavily in science, PMI is funding research and technology that will help adult smokers quit cigarettes and end the most harmful form of nicotine delivery.
Metaculus Prediction
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