Influence-for-hire

{{Behavioural influences}}

Companies that engage in the influence-for-hire industry range from content farms to high-end public relations agencies. Traditionally influence operations have largely been confined to public sector actors like intelligence agencies, in the influence-for-hire industry the groups conduction the operations are private with commerce being their primary consideration.{{Cite journal |last1=Loudermilk |first1=E. Louise |last2=O’Brien |first2=Joseph J. |last3=Goodrick |first3=Scott L. |last4=Linn |first4=Rodman R. |last5=Skowronski |first5=Nicholas S. |last6=Hiers |first6=J. Kevin |date=2022-06-10 |title=Vegetation's influence on fire behavior goes beyond just being fuel |journal=Fire Ecology |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=9 |doi=10.1186/s42408-022-00132-9 |issn=1933-9747|doi-access=free }} However many of the clients in the influence-for-hire industry are countries or countries acting through proxies.{{cite web |last1=Wallace |first1=Jacob |last2=Boggle |first2=Ariel |last3=Zhang |first3=Albert |last4=Mansour |first4=Hillary |title=Influence for hire. The Asia-Pacific's online shadow economy |url=https://www.aspi.org.au/report/influence-hire |website=www.aspi.org.au |publisher=ASPI |access-date=14 August 2021}} They are often located in countries with less expensive digital labor.{{cite web |last1=KIPAROIDZE |first1=MARIAM |title='Influence for hire' networks are manipulating online discussions throughout the Asia Pacific region |url=https://www.codastory.com/disinformation/disinformation-hire/ |website=www.codastory.com |date=August 13, 2021 |publisher=Coda Story |access-date=14 August 2021}}

In May 2021, Facebook took a Ukrainian influence-for-hire network offline. Facebook attributed the network to organizations and consultants linked to Ukrainian politicians including Andriy Derkach.{{cite web |last1=Culliford |first1=Elizabeth |title=Facebook Removes Ukraine Political 'Influence-For-Hire' Network |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/technology/articles/2021-05-06/facebook-removes-ukraine-political-influence-for-hire-network |website=www.usnews.com |publisher=US News |access-date=14 August 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Somerville |first1=Hannah |title=Ukrainian MP blasts 'hysterical' Facebook after influence network busted |url=https://www.euronews.com/2021/05/13/ukrainian-mp-blasts-hysterical-facebook-after-influence-network-busted |website=www.euronews.com |date=May 13, 2021 |publisher=Euro News |access-date=14 August 2021}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic state sponsored misinformation was spread through influence-for-hire networks.{{cite web |last1=Mansour |first1=Hillary |last2=Nkwanyana |first2=Khwezi |last3=Page |first3=Matthew |title=The threat spectrum |url=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-threat-spectrum-21/ |website=www.aspistrategist.org.au |date=July 30, 2021 |publisher=ASPI |access-date=14 August 2021}}

In August 2021, a report published by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute implicated the Chinese government and the ruling Chinese Communist Party in campaigns of online manipulation conducted against Australia and Taiwan using influence-for-hire.{{cite web |last1=Gibson |first1=Liam |title=CCP outsourcing propaganda campaigns to content farms in Taiwan and Australia: Think tank |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4267630 |website=www.taiwannews.com.tw |date=August 10, 2021 |publisher=Taiwan News |access-date=14 August 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Galloway |first1=Anthony |title=Growing online 'influence-for-hire' economy opens door for foreign interference: report |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/growing-online-influence-for-hire-economy-opens-door-for-foreign-interference-report-20210809-p58h04.html |website=www.smh.com.au |date=August 9, 2021 |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=14 August 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Barbaschow |first1=Asha |title=ASPI suggests government work with platforms to fight disinformation for hire |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/aspi-suggests-government-work-with-platforms-to-fight-disinformation-for-hire/ |website=ZDNet |publisher=ZDNet |access-date=14 August 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Rae |first1=Marion |title=China hides behind hackers for hire: study |url=https://thewest.com.au/politics/china-hides-behind-hackers-for-hire-study-c-3643227 |website=thewest.com.au |date=August 10, 2021 |publisher=The West Australian |access-date=14 August 2021}}

{{Div col|colwidth=25em|content=

• Creator economy
• Cultural technology
• Hype (marketing)
• Influencer marketing
• Personal branding
• Reputation system
• Shill
• Social commerce
• Social media marketing
• Social profiling
• Viral marketing

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{{Reflist}}

{{Media manipulation}}

{{Media and human factors}}

Category:Social influence

Category:Media manipulation

Category:Internet manipulation and propaganda

Category:Social media