PS2.3 explores how commercial actors shape health-related policy, research, and public discourse through a recurring set of practices. It will examine mechanisms such as lobbying, litigation, marketing, standard-setting, narrative framing, and reputation management, and how these influence decision-making processes and societal norms across sectors. The session is intended to provide a systemic understanding of how commercial influence operates, travels, and scales across industries. It will look beyond direct corporate actions to the wider systems that enable and amplify influence, including digital platforms and algorithms, advertising systems, trade associations, consultancies, professional networks, and other intermediaries. It will also consider structural drivers such as weak governance, corruption, regulatory capture, and limited transparency and accountability, which can shape how commercial interests interact with public policy and health goals.

Particular attention will be given to the role of intermediaries—including trade associations, consultancies, professional networks, and digital platforms—in enabling and amplifying these forms of influence under varying levels of transparency and accountability. Drawing on examples from sectors such as digital media, food and nutrition, tobacco, alcohol, e-commerce and retail, the session will consider how data-driven technologies and platform-based ecosystems are reshaping pathways of influence, with implications for public health and policy.