The Next Web has interviewed Tarandeep Gill, the prankster behind the fakestudywhich claimed that Internet Explorer (IE) users have a lower IQ than those who use Firefox, Chrome…and every other browser.
We firstreportedon the ‘AptiQuant’ study last week, but with the benefit of hindsight, and a little digging, it became pretty apparent that it was all an elaboratehoax, as we wrote earlier today.
The good people behind AptiQuant later ‘fessed up, posting this spiel to its homepage:
“AptiQuant was set up in late July 2011 by comparison shopping websiteAtCheap.com, in order to launch a fake “study” called “Intelligent Quotient and Browser Usage.” The study claimed that people using Internet Explorer have a below than average IQ score. The study took the IT world by storm. The main purpose behind this hoax was to create awareness about the incompatibilities of IE6, and not to insult or hurt anyone. AptiQuant is not related to Central Test in any way.”
This was followed by a blogpostcalled: Tell-Tale signs that should have uncovered the hoax in less than 5 minutes! It seems the following points should’ve made the hoax obvious:
Meet Tarandeep Gill
Tarandeep Gill is a 28-year old, living in Vancouver, Canada. He’s the main man behind price comparison websiteAtCheap.com. We asked him who he is, what his motivations were, and what he hoped to gain from the grand ruse that angered and amused thousands, gaining headlines around the world.
“I am a computer programmer, web developer and entrepreneur”, said Gill. “I graduated with a Masters Degree in Computer Science fromGeorgia Tech. I worked briefly before quitting my job to work on my startupAtCheap.com, which is a comparison shopping website. I am also working on a social networking site lyked.com, but it’s still a work in progress.”
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It seems that Gill got the idea for his hoax around a month ago. He noted that IE 6.0 is still being used by about a tenth of the Internet’s population. “10% is a lot of people”, said Gill. “I have no doubt that this is holding back innovation on the Web.”
It seems that Gill feels strongly about certain IE version, as he alsonoteson the AptiQuant website:
“This was not a cheap publicity stunt, but an honest effort to create awareness about the incompatibilities of IE versions 6.0 to 8.0. I have had made futile efforts in this regard earlier too (seewww.beastoftheweb.com).”
So, this entire ruse was seemingly inspired by a desire to draw attention to the pitfalls of a version of Internet Explorer that was released initially way back in August 2001. Ten years ago this month, as it happens.
But was he expecting this level of exposure following the pseudo-study? “No, not really”, he said. “I was really surprised to see this news on CNN, MSNBC, BBC, the Guardian, the Telegraph etc. I was going to come out, but was waiting for the news to spread more before I did so. When I saw a few news websites had already caught on to my hoax, there was not point in playing the game anymore.”
The plot thickened too, when a seemingly unassociated firm called Central Test had the exactsame imagesof the same personnel on its website as the AptiQuant website did. The mini biographies were almost identical too. So why that website in particular? “Central Test just came up randomly in a Google search I did”, said Gill. “And given that I did not expect the news to gain so much widespread attention, I did not think anybody would care to match the photos.”
With the benefit of hindsight, Gill has one resounding regret from the whole episode. “I regret using the worddumbin my original news release”, he says, in reference to his fake study’s claim that IE users had lower IQs. “But I guess it was necessary to get the media attention. I also regret copying Central Test’s stuff without their permission.”
When all is said and done, very little harm came from the hoax. Some have argued that it exposed glaring holes in many Editors’ fact-checking armories, whilst others have viewed it all as a bit of fun. Either way, many debates emerge from this; and now, I think it’s time to upgrade my browser.
Story byPaul Sawers
Paul Sawers was a reporter with The Next Web in various roles from May 2011 to November 2014.
Follow Paul on Twitter: @psawers or check h(show all)Paul Sawers was a reporter with The Next Web in various roles from May 2011 to November 2014.
Follow Paul on Twitter:@psawersor check him out onGoogle+.
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