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Re:Google resists demands from states in digital-ad probe by tylerl on Friday February 21, 2020 @09:34PM (#22389009)
If it's true astroturfing then it is by definition a professional operation. Astroturfing has to be directed by an institutional authority, otherwise it actually is grassroots.
Re:Google resists demands from states in digital-ad probe by dang on Friday February 21, 2020 @11:21PM (#22389406)
Single-purpose accounts driving an agenda in a deceptive way aren't necessarily institutional. Normally I wouldn't quibble about definitions, but since I used the word astroturfing above, I want to emphasize that I'm not saying they work for Google. We don't know that, and for HN anti-abuse purposes, it doesn't matter.
Re:Google resists demands from states in digital-ad probe by zepto on Saturday February 22, 2020 @04:57PM (#22393606)
They could work for a law firm or some other subcontractor of Google without Google actually knowing about it.