front group
Disguised sponsor vehicle
A front group is an organization that presents itself as independent while secretly serving the interests of another entity—typically a corporation, government, or political movement.
The hidden sponsor uses the front group to advance its agenda while avoiding direct association: The "citizens' coalition" turned out to be a front group for the chemical industry.
Front groups often adopt neutral or public-interest-sounding names to obscure their true backing.
Deceptive outward appearance
- strawmanDeliberately weakened counterargument
- proxyAuthorized substitute
- shillFraudster's fake customer
- coverProtect by overlaying
cutout · false flag · astroturfing · phony · bogus · fake · imposture · masquerade
Advocating to decision-makers
- PACCampaign contribution pooler
- political action committeeOrganization funding electoral campaigns
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
coalition · influence peddling · legislation · policy · regulation · stakeholder · grassroots · dark money
Concealment through misdirection
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
- veilFabric that obscures
- cloakSleeveless outer wrap
- screenDisplay or barrier
shield · disguise · mask · camouflage · hidden agenda · covert · clandestine · undercover
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- messagingSending written digital communications
- narrativeAccount of events
spin · whitewash · manipulation · indoctrination · bias · talking points · psyops · information warfare
Formal examination of facts
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- unmaskingRevealing what's hidden
disclosure · transparency · watchdog · journalist · probe · follow the money · paper trail · accountability
facade
Deceptive outward appearance
- strawmanDeliberately weakened counterargument
- proxyAuthorized substitute
- shillFraudster's fake customer
cover · cutout · false flag · astroturfing · phony · bogus · fake · imposture · masquerade · charade
lobbying
Advocating to decision-makers
- PACCampaign contribution pooler
- political action committeeOrganization funding electoral campaigns
- advocacyPleading for a cause
campaign · coalition · influence peddling · legislation · policy · regulation · stakeholder · grassroots · dark money · donor
smokescreen
Concealment through misdirection
screen · shield · disguise · mask · camouflage · hidden agenda · covert · clandestine · undercover · plausible deniability
disinformation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- messagingSending written digital communications
narrative · spin · whitewash · manipulation · indoctrination · bias · talking points · psyops · information warfare · stooge
investigation
Formal examination of facts
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
unmasking · disclosure · transparency · watchdog · journalist · probe · follow the money · paper trail · accountability · backlash
- factionsfactions, faction, splinter party, blocs, offshoot
- secret organizationscabal, secret society, secret societies, conspiracy, spy network
- secret societiesFreemasons, Illuminati, secret society, secret societies, Masons
- Terrorismterrorism, terror cell, suicide bomber, suicide bombing, suicide attack
- cult awarenesscults, deprogramming, brainwashing, mind control, coercive control
- Online Manipulatorstroll, bot, shill, sock puppet, sockpuppet
front groupgrassroots organization
Locally-led citizen group
grassroots movement · organic movement · community organization · honest broker
front, group, fronts, fronted, fronting, frontal, frontage, frontman, forefront