Another Update on Astroturfing - Making Light - Brings together a number of resources and looks at the anti-astroturfing campaign. Notable for lengthy discussion in the comments.
More Astroturfing on Net Neutrality Issue - Eric Bangeman - Looks at a case of astroturfing from the American Consumer Institute "The practice of industry groups setting up faux-grassroots organizations seems to have accelerated lately, and... have become even more 'net-savvy."
Astroturf presents a new and real threat - Nick Aster - "That's not to say misleading or overly rosy public relations campaigns are anything new, but this new breed of under-the-table campaigns poses a particular threat that must be addressed."
Web 2.0, meet Astroturf 2.0 - Jon Hannibal Stokes - Coins the term "Astroturf 2.0" - "The newer astroturf campaigns profiled by Common Cause are much more Internet savvy, and they're getting more and more sophisticated in their attempts to look like the spontaneous expressions of concerned citizens. Astroturf 2.0, as we might call it, make use of viral marketing techniques like videos and funny cartoons that can be passed around via email."
Another PR Firm Gets in Hot Water Over Astroturfing - Steve Rubel - "This is becoming a really important issue for the PR community. A small number of black hats are going to give the folks who are engaging bloggers the right way to get an unfair black eye. I urge everyone in the PR community to read and pass along the information that's on the New PR Wiki"
Cluetrain author dispels absolute transparency myth - Strumpette - David Weinberger clarifies internet transparency and explains that transparency should not be absolute "transparency is generally a good thing, even if it isn't an absolute. It is especially good -- in fact, it's becoming a requirement -- in those elements of the business most used to subterfuge and manipulation. (Hint: Marketing and PR.) In a culture built by open and honest conversation among customers, techniques such as astroturfing are especially despicable because they abrade trust."
For Immediate Release Episode 160 - David Phillips interviews CIPR Director General Colin Farrington - Farrington raises the ethical issues with online communication and stresses the need for PR practitioners to consider issues presented by astroturfing (interview is at 26.11, Phillips blogged about the interview here)
Increasing the volume - and the rhetoric - in social media - Colin McKay? - McKay? asks if an Israeli Government attempt to encourage citizens to use software to alert them to anti-Israeli discussion forums is astroturfing - interesting discussion in the comments
Australian Astroturf - John Quiggin - "Astroturf groups have their Internet equivalent in the form of sock-puppets, one of the lowest forms of life on the Web"
Astroturfing in the Digital Age - Chris Newlan - reports on a discussion on online transparency at the Future of Media Summit
On Online Behaviour & Conduct - Mike Manuel - "the root issue with astroturfing is online disclosure -- and disclosure is a complicated issue that communicators need to clearly define as they determine their own best practices for behavior and conduct online"
The Astroturfing Wars - Mitch Joel - "Ultimately, companies that engage in this activity give our industry a bad name. As marketers, it’s our job to be vigilant. To create real conversations. To demonstrate the real benefits and values of the products and services we market. It’s our job to weed out the astroturf."
No astroturfing around here! - Ross Dawson - "In a world where new communications technologies are giving power to the many to express themselves and gain influence, there is no question there will be more and more astroturfing"
Chinese Internet Police are Astroturfing - MarteyDodoo?.com - Points to a case of the Chinese Government astroturfing in order to affect political discussions online
Is Tello Astroturfing Arrington? - Shel Israel - Israel writes of his suspicions that Mike Arrington is a victim of astroturfing
