Methodology
Tobacco Nexus is an investigative database documenting publicly available links between entities and the world's five largest tobacco corporations: Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, Imperial Brands and Altria.
The purpose of the database is not to assign blame, allege misconduct or imply that every listed entity acts on behalf of the tobacco industry. Its purpose is narrower: to document relationships that are relevant to understanding how tobacco-industry influence, ownership, funding, lobbying, partnerships and public-facing networks operate.
An entity may be included in Tobacco Nexus when at least one documented connection links it to one or more of the five tobacco corporations covered by the project. Connections may include, but are not limited to:
The strength of these links varies. Some entries describe direct ownership or employment. Others describe weaker or indirect relationships, such as participation in an industry-sponsored event or links through a funded intermediary. Each entry should be read on its own terms.
Tobacco Nexus groups entities by the nature of the documented relationship.
Tobacco Nexus relies on publicly available sources. Priority is given to primary or verifiable sources. Where possible, entries trace links upward to the relevant tobacco company — for example, if an organisation received funding from a foundation funded by Philip Morris International, the entry describes that chain rather than simply stating that the organisation is "industry linked."
Inclusion in Tobacco Nexus does not imply wrongdoing. It does not mean that a person, organisation or company is controlled by the tobacco industry, unless the entry explicitly documents ownership or control.
It also does not mean that every position taken by a listed entity is false, illegitimate or commercially motivated. Some individuals or organisations may hold genuine views that align with tobacco-company interests. The database documents relationships, not intent.
The central question is transparency. Readers should be able to see whether a public position, campaign, study, organisation, event or professional activity has a documented connection to a tobacco company or tobacco-funded structure.
Tobacco Nexus is a work in progress. It is not exhaustive. Some countries, companies, sectors and time periods are better documented than others. Some entries may become outdated as companies change ownership, organisations close, websites disappear, or individuals change roles.
The database also reflects the limits of available public information. Some relationships are clearly documented through official records. Others are assembled from multiple public sources. When evidence is limited, entries remain cautious and avoid overstating the relationship.
The absence of an entity from Tobacco Nexus does not mean that no tobacco-industry link exists. It may simply mean that no relevant link has yet been documented or added to the database.
Tobacco Nexus aims to be accurate, transparent and fair. Corrections, clarifications and additional sources are welcome.
Anyone who believes an entry is inaccurate, outdated, incomplete or misleading can request a correction by contacting [email protected] with verifiable information or documentation. When appropriate, entries may be updated, clarified, reclassified or removed.
The goal of the project is not to create a blacklist. It is to make tobacco-industry networks easier to understand, verify and investigate.
Tobacco Nexus includes entries on named individuals where a documented connection to a tobacco company or tobacco-linked structure exists in publicly available sources. Only information that is already public is included — employment records, lobbying disclosures, event participation, board memberships, academic affiliations and similar data drawn from official or published sources.
Individuals who believe their entry is inaccurate, outdated or disproportionate may request a review by contacting [email protected]. Entries may be updated, clarified or removed where appropriate. The database does not include private contact information, personal addresses or data unrelated to the documented professional connection.
When referencing Tobacco Nexus in published work, the following format is suggested:
Servet, A. Tobacco Nexus [database]. tobacconexus.org. Accessed [date].
For individual entries, include the entity name, the tobacco company it is linked to, and the access date, since entries may be updated over time. Always verify the cited primary sources directly before publication.
This methodology page was last updated in June 2026. The database is updated on an ongoing basis; individual entries carry their own source dates where available. The absence of a recent update date on an entry does not indicate that the information is outdated — it reflects the date the entry was first documented.