Here's how Julie detected she was texting with a Russian troll bot.
We got a question already on how she knew, thank you David. So I asked her. Here's what she said:
1.Length of time between replies.
The computer, or maybe the Russian at the other end, had to spend up to five minutes to reply to certain questions. For example, when Julie asked the bot, who was posing as an Assistant Secretary of Education from Maryland, how he was interested in her work, the bot replied that he had an old-time high school friend of the same name and he "thought you were she."
So Julie responded, "So she never married then?" and that sent the computer spinning (presumably) for five minutes before coming up with a response.
2.Grammar.
Notice above how the bot used the term "old time" high school friend, Americans don't use that term. And bad grammar was then followed by perfect but uncommon language, like "I thought you were she." While correct, it's not a phrase most Americans would use.
3.Unlikely common set of interests.
First, posing as an Assistant Secretary of Education, and then posting on a holiday. But more important was the bot poses as being interested in the same things Julie (you) are. Julie's in education, so someone in education or interested in education might respond to the Ass't Sec. of Education more readily than the Asst Secretary for Veterinary Science (?) or some other title.
Finally, when accused of being a troll, the bot logged off rather than saying he was a human. But Julie said the bot did try again yesterday.
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