Health and government groups spend millions advertising on websites that promote misinformation, sometimes unintentionally
Health and government groups have spent millions of dollars on advertising that appeared on websites promoting health misinformation, unintentionally supporting the spread of false information. A study by Yale University found that these organizations accounted for over 10% of advertising payments to 11 websites that promote health misinformation between 2021 and 2024.
Health and government organizations have spent $35.7 million on advertising on websites that promote health misinformation. The ads were for nonprescription wellness products, such as supplements, and were placed by reputable organizations like the American Heart Association and the Alzheimer's Association. These organizations use automated advertising programs to reach target audiences, but sometimes ads appear on unwanted sites. The American Heart Association and the Alzheimer's Association expressed concern about the spread of health misinformation and committed to providing credible information. The ads may enhance trust in misinformation or diminish trust in the government or health organization. Researchers worked with NewsGuard to identify websites that promote health misinformation and track advertising expenditures.
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