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Front organization
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<p>A front organization is any entity set up by and controlled by another organization, such as <a href="/facts/Intelligence_agency/r3kDlaeD">intelligence agencies</a>, <a href="/facts/Organized_crime/m2eEga1z">organized crime</a> groups, <a href="/facts/Terrorist_organization/LmnuRFFL">terrorist organizations</a>, <a href="/facts/Secret_society/xq3AkToK">secret societies</a>, banned organizations, religious or political groups, <a href="/facts/Advocacy_group/7oNDHtPI">advocacy groups</a>, or <a href="/facts/Corporation/hykSVoWJ">corporations</a>. Front organizations can act for the parent group without the actions being attributed to the parent group, thereby allowing them to hide certain activities from the authorities or the public. </p><p>Front organizations that appear to be independent <a href="/facts/Voluntary_association/RVqXhl3v">voluntary associations</a> or <a href="/facts/Charitable_organization/x8frlCm4">charitable organizations</a> are called front groups. In the business world, front organizations such as front companies or <a href="/facts/Shell_corporation/xRH4bJXQ">shell corporations</a> are used to shield the <a href="/facts/Parent_company/nBGIp6rU">parent company</a> from legal liability. In <a href="/facts/International_relations/FgLEX3Cy">international relations</a>, a <a href="/facts/Puppet_state/cNDM9tpK">puppet state</a> is a <a href="/facts/State_(polity)/7ggBzTSk">state</a> which acts as a front (or surrogate) for another state. </p>