Astroturfing

1 definition found

From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:

  astroturfing n. The use of paid shills to create the impression of a
     popular movement, through means like letters to newspapers from
     soi-disant `concerned citizens', paid opinion pieces, and the formation
     of grass-roots lobbying groups that are actually funded by a PR group
     (astroturf is fake grass; hence the term). This term became common among
     hackers after it came to light in early 1998 that Microsoft had


     attempted to use such tactics to forestall the U.S. Department of
     Justice's antitrust action against the company.
  
     This backfired horribly, angering a number of state attorneys-general
     enough to induce them to go public with plans to join the Federal suit.
     It also set anybody defending Microsoft on the net for the accusation
     "You're just astroturfing!".