hidden sponsorship
Covert commercial backing
Hidden sponsorship is financial or material support that isn't disclosed to the audience.
A blogger promoting products without revealing they're being paid, or a news outlet running favorable coverage of an advertiser without acknowledgment—both involve hidden sponsorship.
The practice raises ethical concerns about transparency and conflicts of interest: The influencer faced backlash when her hidden sponsorship was exposed.
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
- covertIntentionally concealed
- behind closed doorsIn private, unobserved
- undisclosedNot made known
- dark moneyUndisclosed political contributions
payola · under the table · influencer · brand deal · paid promotion · shill · native · advertorial · branded · astroturf · planted · disguised · endorsement · paid · bought and paid for · underhanded · embedded · subliminal
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