WORLD
PMI under fire for social media tactics

Philip Morris International (PMI) is under fire after a group of anti-smoking organisations wrote a letter to four major social media networks asking the platforms to remove promotional content of the company’s heated-tobacco-product IQOS, claiming that PMI is using digital channels and social media influencers to promote its products, Bloomberg reported.

The letter, which was signed by Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and over 120 other organisations from 48 countries, was addressed to Facebook’s Instragram’s, Twitter’s and Snapchap’s top executives. The organisations urged the media platforms to “immediately remove all content that promotes #IQOS or any tobacco product and features an explicit paid disclaimer,” Bloomberg reported.
In addition to that, the organisations asked the platforms to suspend a list of users who have repeatedly posted content promoting Philip Morris products, the report said.
PMI responded to the allegations, saying, “The simple fact is that digital channels form an important part of our efforts to inform men and women who smoke about the existence of better alternatives to cigarettes, and to help them make informed decisions,” Bloomberg reported.
“By trying to pressure us and digital channel owners to effectively block these channels and to prevent adult smokers from accessing information about better choices, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is in effect perpetuating the consumption of tobacco in its most harmful form: combustible cigarettes,” PMI added.
Philip Morris USA also released a statement to Bloomberg saying, “[It] has no plans to utilise social media influencers for IQOS.”
Twitter responded to the letter saying the company forbids the promotion of tobacco products and is currently speaking with Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, but also said that it cannot stop influencers from promoting tobacco products on its platform or their independently made agreements, according to Bloomberg. Twitter, however, did tell Bloomberg in an emailed statement that it supports efforts to restrict new emerging online tobacco advertising.
In a statement to Bloomberg, Snap Inc. said that its policy bans adverts that promote cigarettes, e-cigarettes, all forms of tobacco products and its policy also applies to influencers.
Facebook and Instagram did not comment on the letter or allegations, according to the report.

Want to read the latest TJI?

Industrie.de Infoservice
Vielen Dank für Ihre Bestellung!
Sie erhalten in Kürze eine Bestätigung per E-Mail.
Von Ihnen ausgesucht:
Weitere Informationen gewünscht?
Einfach neue Dokumente auswählen
und zuletzt Adresse eingeben.
Wie funktioniert der Industrie.de Infoservice?
Zur Hilfeseite »
Ihre Adresse:














Die Konradin Verlag Robert Kohlhammer GmbH erhebt, verarbeitet und nutzt die Daten, die der Nutzer bei der Registrierung zum Industrie.de Infoservice freiwillig zur Verfügung stellt, zum Zwecke der Erfüllung dieses Nutzungsverhältnisses. Der Nutzer erhält damit Zugang zu den Dokumenten des Industrie.de Infoservice.
AGB
datenschutz-online@konradin.de