Samsung paid students to trash talk HTC online
The world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer and the biggest Android device maker by far is under some heavy fire this week after new outrageous allegations have been brought up by Taiwanese officials. Those officials are investigating Samsung after receiving complaints that the company hired students to go online and tarnish HTC’s reputation by posting unfavorable reviews and comments and exalting Samsung devices at the same time.
It’s a bit hard to believe a company of Samsung’s stature would go to such lengths, but the Samsung Taiwan Facebook page actually came out and owned up to it, issuing an apology and admitting that this shouldn’t have happened. As such, the company assured everyone that it would cease this type of marketing immediately. The news came out as TaiwanSamsungLeaks obtained documents that proved the company partook in such acts.
This prompted the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission to launch an investigation which could lead to a penalty of up to $835,000 for Samsung. This wouldn’t be the first time we’ve heard of Samsung taking special interest in trying to beat HTC.
Earlier reports this week suggested Samsung would be building the Galaxy Note 3 with more premium materials and quality in order to keep up with the remarkable design achieved in the HTC One. That’s a noble route to take to compete, we’d say. Tarnishing the company’s name by paying students to make anonymous posts online, however, definitely isn’t, and Samsung knows that.
[via BBC]