Paid protester

In some contexts, people may be hired for optics to show increased public participation in the democratic process.

The benefits of this is that it is a cheap way to populate a protest site as well as reduce the probability of violent confrontation with the police and other security forces.

[18] In 2018, the Additional Solicitor General of India used the phrase in the Supreme Court of India, "We are in an era where there are some professional protesters who like to protest outside the apex court, Parliament, President’s house or Prime Minister’s house.

During the visit of Tamim al-Thani to London in 2018, a paid protest took place outside Downing Street.

[32][33] In Indonesia, the term "nasi bungkus brigade" or the "boxed lunch crowd" has been coined to refer to paid protesters.