Taiwan fines Samsung for astroturfing internet comments on its smartphones
![](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/whg4oId8vrq__vjD_1eYAg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTUyNg--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/nAx2VC_MoWFcwTgtr.AsTA--~B/aD0zNDA7dz02MjA7YXBwaWQ9eXRhY2h5b24-/https://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/10/samsung-astroturfing-jussi-mononen-flickr.jpg)
Astroturfing (false grassroots) campaigns are usually reserved for promoting unpopular causes, but Samsung apparently disagrees. Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission has just fined the company NT$10 million ($340,333) for marketing its already successful smartphone line through fake internet comments. Samsung allegedly asked third-party contractor Peng Thai to write forum posts that praised devices, trashed competitors and downplayed bad news. The fine is almost trivial for a tech giant that makes billions of dollars in profit per quarter, but it may discourage others who would try similar dirty tricks -- besides, there are plenty of fans who would boost a product for free.
[Image credit: Jussi Mononen, Flickr]