2021-11-15
Le Monde and The Investigative Desk delved into the multi-layered world of Big Tobacco’s 21st century astroturfing. They discovered that under the guise of defending individual freedom, fake consumer organisations are promoting e-cigarettes.
These organisations are an illusion to the public and decision-makers, aiming to influence regulation of these new products and to hamper tobacco control. They are secretly funded by the tobacco lobby and the networks of American oil billionaires.
The stakes are not just financial. This elusive nebula is working to disseminate a radical right-wing ideology, hostile to government intervention, in the heart of Europe: libertarianism.
This investigation has been nominated for the Goud Freelancer 2022 Award.
Photo image: Le Monde
Supported
€8.000 allocated on 16/04/2021ID
ECB/2021/650Tags
ONLINE:
- Vaping the real dollars behind fake consumer organisations - Le Monde, 03/11/2021;
- Vapotage les vrais millions des fausses organisations de consommateurs - Le Monde, 03/11/2021;
- Vermomd als burgerbeweging lobbyt de tabaksindustrie tegen strenge wetgeving voor e-sigaretten - NRC, 03/11/2021
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