"This research details how the tobacco industry extensively and systematically employs "whitewashing" strategies. The approach and intensity of these tactics vary widely depending on the economic context, with more sophisticated manipulation observed in HICs involving scientific collaborations and CSR activities. In contrast, in LMICs and LICs, the strategies are more aligned with exploiting economic and regulatory weaknesses. These tactics represent not only a significant public health issue but also raise larger concerns about ethics and governance within these regions."