Health Insurers Caught Bribing 'FarmVille' Gamers to Oppose Healthcare Reform

by Amar Toor on December 12, 2009 at 01:50 PM

Most political parties or interests (from countless fan pages or groups devoted to espousing one doctrine or another, or just general forums where people can go to learn more) use Facebook in a pretty innocent way. But why go through all that effort to inform and educate when you can just manufacture political opinion with "money"?

That seems to be the philosophy of several major health insurance companies at least. Companies opposed to President Obama's healthcare plan have started "paying" online gamers with virtual money, in exchange for written letters to congressmen or local representatives expressing their opposition to the Obama plan. Usually, people playing 'FarmVille' or 'Mafia Wars' earn virtual "money" on their own gaming merits, which they can use to buy new weapons or something equally silly to advance further in the game. Alternatively, they could actually buy the fake money with real money. Or, they could get third-party offers -- normally from companies who require gamers to try a product in exchange for extra points.

An anti-reform group called 'Get Health Reform Right' is one such third party, but instead of offering users to try a certain product, they require them to fill out a short survey. The catch is, after the gamer fills out the survey and goes back to shooting gangsters or raising digital cattle, an e-mail is automatically sent to their political representative, saying: "I am concerned a new government plan could cause me to lose the employer coverage I have today. More government bureaucracy will only create more problems, not solve the ones we have."

This practice of paying people to act like political supporters is known as "astroturfing," and, believe it or not, it's actually legal. It's certainly not the first time during the healthcare debate that we've seen this kind of misrepresentation of public opinion, so perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. And besides, as you can see from the screen shot, the survey makes it very clear that the message will be sent to senators and representatives, so it's technically transparent enough. We just think that there are better, less unctuous ways to use Facebook to promote a cause, without dangling the carrot of virtual money in front of vulnerable gamers. We're glad the story's out, and we hope congressmen read it. That way, when they see a flood of identical e-mails calling for the destruction of Obamacare, they'll take the message with the generous helping of salt that it deserves. [From: Business Insider]

Tags: facebook, famrville, gaming, get health reform right, GetHealthReformRight, health insurance, HealthInsurance, insurance, mafia wars, MafiaWars, top

Comments

Robert SmithDec 12th 2009 5:25PM

Neutral

The stakes are high and the Health Insurance Scoundrels are busy with their treachery against the People of this Nation who are seeking only fairly priced health insurance coverage for themselves and their families.
And, it is the Republican Party, supporting the Insurance Companies and Health Industry desires, to continue robbing Americans of a fair and reasonably priced system of Insurance Coverage.
GOP = Greed Over People

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te simDec 13th 2009 3:10AM

Neutral

A National Health Care Plan should have been passed years ago. It's not only good common sense but it brings back a sense of American Fairness as well. American capitalism is a major point to many citizens. But American honesty, justice and fairness mean a lot more to the majority of us.

Let's pass a good plan for the common citizen, it should be comparable to our legislative branch health plan.

Some American citizens (Men and Women) have never really done anything for this country but take. Paying taxes was never the true definition of a American Citizen. Sacrifice was the first definition, many sacrifices were made their lives before we even had a Constitution. Moving the dream of freedom, honesty, justice and fairness forward for all. The sacrifice of a National Health Plan will help move our country forward.

It will not be profitable for the few but we have to remember our citizens who have given their lives for the quality of life we enjoy did not do it for profit.

Respectfully American

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Ken AdamczykDec 13th 2009 8:47AM

Neutral

Why not just do it the American way and bribe them with special interest money? Once politicians are elected they no longer care about the people who elect them only how much special interest money can i obtain so i can continue to get elected. I may have to side with big oil companies and drug manufacturers who literally screw the public with their price fixing.Exxon- Mobil makes almost a hundred BILLION dollars profit. Profit is defined as money made after costs for producing , marketing and distributing so claiming refining, exploration and price of crude have all been factored in. How much is enough? Drug companies drive up the cost of health-care the same way, with a 10 yr. monopoly on the price you pay for a drug they develop their profits are also insane. Many of the drugs they produce are not affordable enough for a lot of people to obtain. Seniors and people with HMOs coverage are forced to find alternative medicine because they cannot afford the cost or the co-pays but no one cares as long as they get their special interest money.

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