- A public relations firm, v-Fluence, secretly profiled over 3,000 organizations and 500 individuals, including environmental health journalists, scientists and advocates, in an effort to undermine global resistance to pesticides and genetically modified crops. The operation was partially funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.
- The firm created a private social network called "Bonus Eventus," accessible to about 1,000 members primarily from the agrochemical industry, academia and government agencies, serving as a repository for detailed profiles that often included sensitive personal information.
- This scandal is part of a longer history of corporate influence and government collusion in the agricultural sector, drawing parallels to the "Monsanto Papers," which revealed how the agricultural giant had manipulated science and public opinion to protect its profits.
- Following exposure, v-Fluence has shut down the Bonus Eventus platform, but questions remain about the potential misuse of personal information and the impact on those profiled. The firm and its leader, Jay Byrne, are named as co-defendants in a lawsuit against Syngenta, the manufacturer of paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide linked to Parkinson's disease.
- Environmental and health advocates are calling for a thorough investigation and stricter regulations to prevent such abuses of power in the future, emphasizing the ongoing need for vigilance in safeguarding the integrity of scientific research and public discourse.
In a chilling revelation that echoes Cold War-era paranoia, it has come to light that a public relations firm, v-Fluence, secretly profiled over 3,000 organizations and 500 individuals, including environmental health journalists, scientists and advocates, in a concerted effort to undermine global resistance to pesticides and genetically modified (GM) crops. The operation, funded in part by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has now been shut down following widespread public outcry and media scrutiny.
The dark side of "Bonus Eventus"
v-Fluence, led by Jay Byrne, a former communications director at Monsanto, created a private social network called "Bonus Eventus," named after the Roman god of agriculture. This shadowy platform, accessible to about 1,000 members — primarily from the agrochemical industry, academia and government agencies — served as a clandestine repository of detailed profiles. These profiles often included sensitive personal information such as home addresses, phone numbers and even the names and house values of family members.
"It's a clear violation of privacy and a fundamental attack on the principles of democratic discourse," said Arthur Grimonpont of Reporters Without Borders. "This kind of manipulation is designed to silence voices that challenge the status quo and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms."
A legacy of corporate influence and government collusion
The revelation of v-Fluence's activities is not an isolated incident but part of a longer history of corporate influence and government collusion in the agricultural sector. In the 1980s and 1990s, similar tactics were used by tobacco companies to downplay the health risks of smoking. More recently, the fossil fuel industry has been accused of funding think tanks and advocacy groups to cast doubt on climate change science.
The current scandal draws parallels to the "Monsanto Papers," a trove of internal documents that revealed how the agricultural giant had manipulated science and public opinion to protect its profits. The documents showed that Monsanto had ghostwritten scientific papers, funded favorable research and attacked critics who raised concerns about the safety of its products, particularly the herbicide Roundup.
"The people who run v-Fluence should search their consciences and ask themselves how the organization serves society and humankind," said Professor Michael Antoniou, a geneticist whose work on the safety of GM crops has been repeatedly targeted. "Their sole purpose seems to be to undermine the honest work of individuals and organizations whose aim is to research and educate about the risks posed by GMOs and pesticides."
The aftermath: Legal and ethical questions abound
Following the exposure of v-Fluence's activities by The Guardian and other media partners, the company has made significant staff cuts and shut down the Bonus Eventus platform. However, the damage has already been done, and many of those profiled remain concerned about the potential misuse of their personal information.
"Those of us who were profiled still do not know who accessed the information and how it was used," Antoniou added. "Did it hinder us in our careers or close doors that otherwise may have been open to us? The fact that v-Fluence and the industries it serves resorted to these underhanded methods shows that they were unable to win on the level of the science."
Moreover, v-Fluence and Byrne are named as co-defendants in a lawsuit against Syngenta, the manufacturer of paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide linked to Parkinson's disease. The lawsuit alleges that v-Fluence helped Syngenta suppress information about the health risks of paraquat and "neutralize" its critics.
A call to action
The shutdown of v-Fluence's profiling operation is a significant victory for transparency and accountability, but the broader issue of corporate influence in policy-making remains a pressing concern. Environmental and health advocates are calling for a thorough investigation and stricter regulations to prevent such abuses of power in the future.
"The practice of profiling and spreading rumors that could harm journalists’ integrity should never be allowed to flourish in a democratic state," Grimonpont emphasized. "A thorough investigation must be conducted to bring to justice all those involved in these outrageous violations of privacy and the reputation of environmental journalists."
As the dust settles, the v-Fluence scandal serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance in safeguarding the integrity of scientific research and public discourse. The fight against corporate influence and government collusion is far from over, and the voices of those advocating for a safer, more sustainable future must continue to be heard.
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