The company has also been accused of astroturfing and spamming.

Many countries have laws that prohibit more overt astroturfing practices.

In the talk, she said that astroturfing was swaying public opinion, legislation and media outlets.

Industry insiders call such practices "Astroturfing," a reference to manufacturing grassroots support.

The New Yorker called it a "blatant example of astroturfing".

The developers have also been accused of astroturfing online reviews on Metacritic.

Some studies suggest astroturfing can alter public viewpoints and create enough doubt to inhibit action.

Some organizations feel their business is threatened by negative comments, so they may engage in astroturfing to drown them out.

Cuomo said the settlement appeared to be one of the first to focus on AstroTurfing.

Prior to the AstroTurfing, there was opposition to the use of artificial turf.

Online comments from astroturfing employees can also sway the discussion through the influence of groupthink.

Faking a grassroots movement is known as astroturfing.

Most astroturfing is black propaganda in that the identity of the source is falsified.

Astroturfing businesses may pay staff based on the number of posts they make that are not flagged by moderators.

Analysts could be considered astroturfing, since they often cover their own clients without disclosing their financial connection.

The page, which includes a picture of Obama's face on a woman's body, suggests that "phony Astroturfing" is behind the letter.

Many posters accused RealNetworks of astroturfing with the petition they had created.

To avoid astroturfing, many organizations and press have policies about gifts, accommodations and disclosures.

The practice is known as "astroturfing," reflecting the fact that such consumer - or grass-root - reviews are not genuine.

Astroturfing, as the name suggests, is named after AstroTurf, a brand of artificial lawn.

Bloggers who receive free products, paid travel or other accommodations may also be considered astroturfing if those gifts are not disclosed to the reader.

Email, automated phone calls, form letters, and the Internet made astroturfing more economical and prolific in the late 1990s.

Political media consultants may also opt for astroturfing techniques, which simulate wide popular appeal for a candidate's platform.

According to an article in the Journal of Consumer Policy academics disagree on how prolific astroturfing is.

The Federal Trade Commission has had guidelines in place for nearly 40 years that make it clear that astroturfing is an unacceptable business practice.