astroturfing

Etymology
From, a play on , as in “fake grass roots”. Attributed to U.S. Senator in an unidentified 1985 public statement: "[A] fellow from Texas can tell the difference between grassroots and Astroturf."

Noun

 * 1)  The disguising of an orchestrated campaign as a "grass-roots" event, i.e., a spontaneous upwelling of public opinion.

Translations

 * Chinese:
 * Mandarin:
 * Finnish: astroturffaus, mielipiteiden ostaminen, tekonurmetus
 * German: Vortäuschen einer Basisbewegung, Tarnung einer Kampagne als Volksbewegung
 * Portuguese: astroturfing