I came across this video posted on Blogging Me Blogging You under a heading called PR = Propaganda?. It is commentary about how Public Relations is nothing more than surreptitious propaganda.

What I'm wondering is whether the same reasoning can be applied to Search Engine Optimization? After all, what is SEO other than creating relevance for a site that previously had none or less? Search engine rankings are determined by a confluence of links of traffic. If you purchase the a sponsored result or employ black hat SEO tactics usurp the #1 organic listing, that is artificial relevance. Can artificial relevance be construed as propaganda?