Philip Morris AI lobbying sparks outrage; Trump ammo woes and Dutch climate inaction also criticized

Philip Morris International has been reprimanded by the Dutch Advertising Standards Authority for attempting to influence European tobacco legislation. The company allegedly used an AI robot, posing as a non-smoker, to generate favorable texts about heated tobacco and chemical vapes. These texts were submitted to the European Commission as objective public opinions.

The author dismisses the reprimand as a "symbolic tap on the fingers," arguing it will cause Philip Morris no significant pain. The piece calls for harsher penalties, such as a half-billion-euro fine to impact shareholders or a "tough community service" sentence. The author suggests the company's executives should assist terminal lung cancer patients in their final moments, questioning them about their age when they became addicted to the company's products.

The article then pivots to a critique of Donald Trump's alleged ammunition shortage, suggesting it could embolden China to invade Taiwan and make Ukraine vulnerable to Russia. It also criticizes Dutch politicians, including Rob Jetten, for their perceived silence on critical issues like climate change, nitrogen emissions, and the conflict in Gaza. The author contrasts their current inaction with their past D66 stances, questioning their leadership during a drought and heatwave.