The ABUSE filter looks at actions by users, such as edits, runs a few heuristics involving regular expressions, and decides which actions are likely to be unconstructive. It's most useful to limit the damage caused by pattern vandals, or wiki vandals whose edits follow a very distinct m.o. Fortunately, automated vandalism processes are obvious pattern vandals, and a filter administrator can usually discover and curtail the pattern after three edits.
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