The Economist controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2023
Fossil-fuel advertising and climate-coverage concerns
An investigation by The Intercept, The Nation and DeSmog identified The Economist as a major media outlet carrying fossil-fuel advertising. Journalists covering climate change reportedly worried that commercial ties could create a perceived conflict of interest or weaken reader confidence in the publication’s climate reporting.
2012
Bangladesh tribunal computer-access allegations
The Economist was accused of hacking or accessing computer communications involving Justice Mohammed Nizamul Huq of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal. Huq resigned as chairman after the controversy. The episode raised questions about journalistic methods, source protection and the handling of sensitive judicial information.