Acting as pressure group

A BBC news editor noted that Greenpeace was traditionally perceived as the courageous David taking on Goliath in its struggles with mighty corporations and governments. However, pointing to Greenpeace's ability to outspend television companies in shooting footage of its own protests which was then given to broadcasters, he went on to note that this particular David isn't armed with a slingshot so much as an AK47.

It can be very difficult for big companies and governments to fight an issue on factual and scientific basis when organizations such as Greenpeace based their campaign on mischievous misinformation.