AstroTurfing, 'CyberTurfing' and other online persuasion campaigns

Leiser, Mark (2016) AstroTurfing, 'CyberTurfing' and other online persuasion campaigns. European Journal of Law and Technology, 7 (1). pp. 1-27. ISSN 2042-115X

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    Abstract

    AstroTurfing and its online equivalent CyberTurfing not only pose a significant threat to consumers, but democratic discourse. Regulatory measures in place to prevent deceptive marketing do not grasp the nature of the threat. It is argued that people make decisions about consumer purchases by using heuristics - mental shortcuts and other rules of thumbs. When making decisions, consumers and voters are often relying on incomplete and false information spread as part of an AstroTurfing campaign. Digitally mediated platforms are being manipulated by propagators to help spread false messages in order to advance specific agendas. As a result, consumer trust and democratic discourse are both undermined. It is argued that further regulation is required to combat the deceptive practice.

    Author(s):Leiser, Mark ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0182-4955
    Item type:Article
    ID code:57098
    Keywords:rationality, heuristics, social media, regulation, CyberTurfing, AstroTurfing, nfair commercial practices directive, online persuasion campaigns, Law (General), Law
    Subjects:Law > Law (General)
    Department:Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) > School of Law > Law
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:26 Jul 2016 11:30
    Last modified:22 Oct 2019 02:44
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/57098
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