Astroturfing

Astroturfing derives its name from AstroTurf, the synthetic grass product -- it is artificial grassroots. The practice involves creating the illusion of widespread public support for or opposition to a policy position when the campaign is actually orchestrated and funded by an organization with a financial stake in the outcome. Astroturfing tactics include creating front groups with names that suggest citizen involvement (e.g., "Americans for Affordable Energy" funded by energy companies), hiring people to attend rallies or public hearings, generating mass form letters or emails to members of Congress that appear to be individual constituent communications, creating fake social media accounts to amplify messages, and funding studies or reports that appear to be independent research. Astroturfing intersects with lobbying in several ways.

Organizations may use astroturfing as a complement to their direct lobbying efforts, creating the appearance of public pressure to reinforce the positions their lobbyists are advocating in private meetings. Because astroturfing campaigns are designed to appear organic, they generally fall outside the LDA's disclosure requirements. The Federal Trade Commission has taken some enforcement actions against deceptive astroturfing in the commercial context, and some states have enacted laws requiring disclosure of the true sponsors of grassroots campaigns. However, astroturfing in the policy and political arena remains largely unregulated.