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Re:Google’s GDPR Workaround by stareatgoats on Wednesday September 04, 2019 @11:05AM (#20877826)
> Companies do actually employ shills to go on forums and try to sway public opinion

I'm inclined to believe you, but sources please. Especially interested if you (or anyone) have anything on Google in this respect.

Re:Google’s GDPR Workaround by oarsinsync on Wednesday September 04, 2019 @12:19PM (#20878666)
Amazon employees what it calls "FC Ambassadors". These people have openly admitted that they are paid by the hour to tweet about the company[0].

Full thread in a nicely readable format at https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2019/08/15/amazon-ambassadors-take...

[0] https://twitter.com/rulesObeyer/status/1161758672973811712

Re:Google’s GDPR Workaround by dredmorbius on Wednesday September 04, 2019 @12:09PM (#20878572)
The Microsoft v. Novell case documented numerous examples and instances of a specific FUD campaign.

The book Merchants of Doubt highlights the practice across decades and industries.

Ralph Nader was subject to corporate smear tactics and surveillance in the 1970s.

The idea that companies would suddenly stop using these tactics the moment they become divinely powerful defies all reason.

Reddit's /r/shills and /r/HailCorporate highlight some modern instances.

Re:Google’s GDPR Workaround by cheschire on Wednesday September 04, 2019 @11:08AM (#20877858)
https://www.reddit.com/r/shills/

It's not going to be entirely legitimate but there's going to be some eye opening items in there for you I suspect.

Re:Google’s GDPR Workaround by caiocaiocaio on Wednesday September 04, 2019 @11:28AM (#20878069)
Remember when Reddit investigated the Boston Marathon bombing and discovered that it was Sunil Tripathi? And then Mr. Tripathi went missing and his body was discovered several weeks later?

Thank God we have Redditors to break the case.

Re:Google’s GDPR Workaround by targonca on Wednesday September 04, 2019 @11:47AM (#20878323)
>And then Mr. Tripathi went missing

False. He went missing a month before the bombings:

>Soon after, another redditor named Sunil as a plausible suspect after asserting a resemblance between the suspects in the FBI's pictures and Sunil, who had gone missing a month before the bombings.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunil_Tripathi

Re:Google’s GDPR Workaround by mffnbs on Wednesday September 04, 2019 @11:25AM (#20878040)
Reddit investigators are not sources.
Re:Google’s GDPR Workaround by ColanR on Wednesday September 04, 2019 @02:12PM (#20879892)
Monsanto is a good example. Paid internet shills: https://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/monsanto-paid-internet-trolls.... Influenced research about its Roundup products: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/business/monsantos-sway-o....
Re:Google’s GDPR Workaround by prophesi on Wednesday September 04, 2019 @11:44AM (#20878270)
Not exactly a company, but if https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Cent_Party is a thing, I can't imagine that it's not also happening in a corporate context.