1. The use of paid shills to create the impression of a popular
movement, through means like letters to newspapers from soi-disant
`concerned citizens', paid opinion pieces, and the formation of
grass-roots lobbying groups that are actually funded by a PR group
(AstroTurf is fake grass; hence the term). See also {sock puppet},
{tentacle}.
2. What an individual posting to a public forum under an assumed name
is said to be doing.
This term became common among hackers after it came to light in early
1998 that Microsoft had attempted to use such tactics to forestall
the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust action against the
company. The maneuver backfired horribly, angering a number of state
attorneys-general enough to induce them to go public with plans to
join the Federal suit. It also set anybody defending Microsoft on the
net for the accusation "You're just astroturfing!".
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {FUD wars}{MicroDroid}{sock puppet}{tentacle}]