Astroturf

This article is part of the Propaganda Portal project of Spinwatch.

Astroturf refers to grassroots groups or coalitions which are actually fake, often created by corporations or public relations firms. When an individual creates a fake identity for similar purposes this is known as a Sock puppet.

Examples of Astroturf Organisations

• Hands Off the Internet
• Freedom's Watch
• Citizens for a Sound Economy
• FreedomWorks
• Americans for Prosperity
• Citizens for Access to the Arts

Resources

• Andy Gittzlitz, I was a political astroturfer, Salon, 14 April 2013
• Wikipedia, Astroturfing: Overview of subject
• SourceWatch, Astroturf: Critical look at corporate Astroturfing
• Adam Bienkov, Astroturfing: what is it and why does it matter?: Opinion piece on astroturfing
• George Monbiot, The need to protect the internet from 'astroturfing' grows ever more urgent: A look at online astroturfing
• Sharyl Attkisson, Top 10 Astroturfers: Astroturfing in the US
• Corporate Watch, Online Astroturfing: Astroturfing on the web
• PR Wiki, Astroturfing: Astroturfing in public relations industries