• BBC, Wednesday, August 3, 2011 11:41 AM

Last week, multiple news organizations, including MediaPost, picked up on research suggesting that Internet Explorer users are less intelligent than users of other Web browsers. The findings ostensibly came from a Canadian firm by the name of Aptiquant, which billed itself as a "psychometric consultant."

Questions about the authenticity of Aptiquant and its findings were later raised by readers of the BBC Web site, who established that the so-called research firm appeared to have only set up its Web site in the past month. "Thumbnail images of the firm's staff on the website also matched those on the site of French research company Central Test, although many of the names had been changed," the BBC notes.

The BBC contacted Central Test which confirmed that they had been made aware of the copy but had no knowledge of ApTiquant or its activities. "It is unclear who was behind the stunt." Along with the BBC, the story was originally reported by CNN, the Daily Mail, the Telegraph, Forbes, Business Insider.

Read the whole story at BBC »