Tumblr Removed From App Store Over Failure to Filter Out Child Pornography

[MacRumors]

Apple removed Tumblr from the iOS App Store late last week because the Yahoo-owned social network failed to filter prohibited content, it emerged today.

The Tumblr app for iPhone and iPad went missing from the App Store on Friday, November 16. Shortly afterwards, Tumblr announced that it was "working to resolve an issue" with the app, but stopped short of explaining the problem.

It wasn't until Download.com approached Tumblr with sources claiming child pornography had been found on the service, that the social network issued a statement providing more information.

In its statement, Tumblr said that every image uploaded to the service is "scanned against an industry database of known child sexual abuse material," and images that are detected never reach the platform. However, a "routine audit" had revealed content that had not yet been included in the industry database, and Tumblr had acted "immediately" to remove it.

"Content safeguards are a challenging aspect of operating scaled platforms," it added. "We're continuously assessing further steps we can take to improve and there is no higher priority for our team."

This isn't the first time a popular app has been removed from the App Store for prohibited content. In February, Apple pulled encrypted messenger app Telegram from its store for violating Apple's iOS developer guidelines, which require all apps that host user-generated content include a method for filtering objectionable material from being posted.

When Telegram fell foul of Apple's guidelines, the app was back on the App Store within 24 hours. Tumblr said getting its app reinstated is its "top priority," yet it continues to be unavailable for iOS devices, although Android users can still download Tumblr via the Google Play Store.

(Via The Verge.)

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Tumblr Removed From App Store Over Failure to Filter Out Child Pornography

 

[breather]

Tumblr and Pinterest is a scourge on the internet.

 

[jonnysods]

What about web browsers?

Definitely not excusing their behaviour!! Just unsure about the logic.

 

[freddiebarnes]

They better remove Twitter and Facebook and every other social media platform. They also better remove Safari. You can find lots of bad things searching on Apple’s own Safari.

 

[matrix07]

Scums of the Earth. There are porn all over internet and they have to watch underage.. Jeezz...

 

[gixxerfool]

I’m not usually an alarmist and typically I find these moves heavy handed, but not in this case. I realize for Tumblr it’s a tough issue to stay on top of, but I feel it’s important for them to not turn a blind eye and stay vigilant to it.

As for the safari comments, that would be living in China then.

 

[Keane16]

What about web browsers?

Definitely not excusing their behaviour!! Just unsure about the logic.

This content is disgusting and actually makes the logic fail. But it's simple.

An example would be a parent, you can block apps based on content or can block built-in apps. Having rogue content like in this Tumblr situation makes the parental controls moot.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201304

I can make all "courage" jokes I want want, but the fact Google, who will know about this content too but has chosen to leave the app up on their store says it all. At first glance Apple looks like the bad guy here for removing the app. But for me it's the right move.

 

[Pelea]

We should remove safari too as you can find child pornography using that app!!

 

[Pakaku]

So a mistake in their system got them into a bit of trouble with Apple. Oh well. Wouldn't be surprised if the app returned just as quickly as it was taken down.

 

[freddiebarnes]

I’m not usually an alarmist and typically I find these moves heavy handed, but not in this case. I realize for Tumblr it’s a tough issue to stay on top of, but I feel it’s important for them to not turn a blind eye and stay vigilant to it.

As for the safari comments, that would be living in China then.

Apple’s rules. Not mine. If they find objectionable content on one platform and ban it, they should do the same for all platforms.

 

[haruhiko]

Ban Safari. Safari can display a lot of things even worse than Tumblr.

 

[Pakaku]

We should remove safari too as you can find child pornography using that app!!

Tumblr is not a web browser, they're a website in control of their content (or at least tries to be)

this sort of argument is silly and makes no sense at all

 

[windywalks]

They would have to remove Telegram, Wickr and Kik while they're at it. Even iMessage can be used to propagate such material.
Tumblr is reluctant to do anything. The platform is ancient and bots are killing the experience too.

 

[freddiebarnes]

Tumblr is not a web browser, they're a website in control of their content (or at least tries to be)

this sort of argument is silly and makes no sense at all

That’s even worse. So because Apple’s Safari is a web browser and not a website you’re saying it’s ok Apple allows child pornography? Yikes.

 

[newyorksole]

Honestly Tumblr has gotten so much worse since they’ve recently removed a lot of explicit content featuring ADULTS.

So many posts/page that I liked/shared are now gone.

Miss the old days Lol.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Tumblr is not a web browser, they're a website in control of their content (or at least tries to be)

this sort of argument is silly and makes no sense at all

It makes perfect sense.

 

[iModFrenzy]

They better remove Twitter and Facebook and every other social media platform. They also better remove Safari. You can find lots of bad things searching on Apple’s own Safari.

The goal is to make the App Store safe for those using it. If Apple knows about this, it’s good they are doing something about it.

 

[laptech]

That’s even worse. So because Apple’s Safari is a web browser and not a website you’re saying it’s ok Apple allows child pornography? Yikes.

He/she is not saying anything, it is you who is by putting words in their mouth to twist what they are saying.

 

[perspective002]

They better remove Twitter and Facebook and every other social media platform. They also better remove Safari. You can find lots of bad things searching on Apple’s own Safari.

You know that Safari isn’t the one hosting that content on their servers right? Do you not understand how the internet works? There’s a reason that content hosting websites and internet browsers are extremely different.

To be clear, content providers are actually held responsible for what they house on their servers. If it’s illegal content, they can be held responsible. Apple made the right move.

Also, if child porn was found to be unfiltered on Facebook or Twitter, it’d be a much bigger story than this. Not all “bad things” you find is illegal content.

 

[makr]

We should remove safari too as you can find child pornography using that app!!

Nonsense.

What about web browsers?

Definitely not excusing their behaviour!! Just unsure about the logic.

What do you suggest?

 

[ProVideo]

3-5 years ago if you reported some one for underage pornography it would be removed pretty quickly and you actually got a response from the mod that removed it thanking you for notifying them. Now you have to jump through hoops to report someone, never get a response, and it takes days or weeks for them to be banned, if they ever are. Since Tumblr was bought by Yahoo, who was bought by Verizon, the reporting and removing of illegal material has been horribly slow and inefficient. I'm glad Apple is doing this because Tumblr seems to need a huge kick to the head to make this a priority and no one else seems to carry enough weight to make them do anything about it.

 

[pika2000]

Open Safari, type in tumblr.com, tap Go, and voila.

Anyway, what about 3rd party clients though? Will they be banned as well just because of this?

I am waiting the day Apple removes Facebook from the App store.

 

[H2SO4]

Tumblr is not a web browser, they're a website in control of their content (or at least tries to be)

this sort of argument is silly and makes no sense at all

Formalities our of the way - yes it’s awful.
On point. Of course it makes sense, you’re just choosing not to see it. If Apple wanted to they could implement software in Safari to try and filter it out. Apple are in charge of what you see in Safari, they ‘filtered out’ flash, they can control other aspects too.

 

[nt5672]

What about web browsers?

Definitely not excusing their behaviour!! Just unsure about the logic.

The web browser is developed by Apple, different standard.

 

[Someyoungguy]

Formalities our of the way - yes it’s awful.
On point. Of course it makes sense, you’re just choosing not to see it. If Apple wanted to they could implement software in Safari to try and filter it out. Apple are in charge of what you see in Safari, they ‘filtered out’ flash, they can control other aspects too.

That’s not how it works. That’s not how any of this works.