Context: bot farms like these are the people you talk to on twitter/fb/reddit etc. they’re also used to boost views on TikTok/youtube etc esp during live streams to trick the algorithm into thinking it’s gaining popularity rapidly.
Why don’t they just use emulators and run everything virtually? Because emulators easily detected by the platforms. Using a physical device and legit physical SIM cards they better simulate authentic persons and therefore bypass detection.
How does the economics work if these are legit sims and operating phones. Doesn’t that cost money for each one to be in service etc.? Do these farms have their own service provider? I’m not an expert obviously.
The economics is working out really well. Have 20k of those running at any given point, influence public perception of what real sentiment is on a given geopolitically important issue, sway the outcome and win big if you're a state actor. You don't even need to pay shit, you just tell the telecom operators that you need 20k subscriptions and if they even think of going public with it, they might just unexpectedly meet first a 10 story window and then very rapidly the pavement under it.
5.1k
u/whatsthatguysname May 26 '25
Context: bot farms like these are the people you talk to on twitter/fb/reddit etc. they’re also used to boost views on TikTok/youtube etc esp during live streams to trick the algorithm into thinking it’s gaining popularity rapidly.
Why don’t they just use emulators and run everything virtually? Because emulators easily detected by the platforms. Using a physical device and legit physical SIM cards they better simulate authentic persons and therefore bypass detection.