Front groups seek to control public opinion. Front groups are often created in direct response to criticism being leveled at an industry or product. Instead of fixing the problems, industry's response is often to change the way these problems are talked about, to downplay them, to discredit critics, and otherwise make the problems disappear from public discourse.
Front groups accomplish this goal by using Propaganda and disinformation. Specific tactics include:
- Astroturfing: Front groups can create a fake "grassroots" campaign to pretend that their front group represents the little guy. The astroturf campaign aims to make the public feel like the front group is on the public's side and that the public's interests are being attacked by government and "the elite."
- Shooting the messenger: Front groups can discredit critics by mocking them, calling them names like "nannies" and "extremists" and otherwise marginalizing them.
- Buying science: Front groups can pay for research, hire scientific experts as spokespeople, and place science stories in the media, all without disclosing their conflict of interest.
- Fearmongering: Front groups can prey on people's fears, especially in relation to their economic security. For example, they can say that a policy will result in higher gas prices or job losses.
