For several days, users of Tumblr have reported problems with the iOS app. The search within the app does not work as usual, had noticed fans of the blog and photo service. In addition, Tumblr's iOS app had suddenly disappeared from Apple's App Store. From Tumblr, which now belongs to Yahoo's parent company Oath, it was said at first only in general, the Tumblr team work "continue to the problem with the iOS app."
However, in the form of a brief statement in his Help section, Tumblr has now revealed the direction of the problem: according to a routine review of the platform, content has been discovered that shows child abuse. In the course of this incident, the app was then apparently removed from the App Store - whether Apple or Tumblr itself, is not known.
The corresponding images were removed immediately after their discovery, says Tumblr's short explanatory text. The service uses a "zero tolerance policy" when it comes to sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children.
Unclear when the app will officially come back
Any image uploaded to Tumblr will be matched against an extensive database of known content from this area. Images that are recognized as problematic would not make it onto the platform. In the specific case, however, it was about content that had not yet been recorded in the database used for the comparison.
If and when the Tumblr app will appear again in the App Store, the Tumblr statement does not reveal. The explanatory text only says that you keep trying to get the app back into the store.
Incidentally, Tumblr's Android app is now available as normal. And even those who had downloaded the iOS app before, you may still be able to play on the menu "Not on this device" under the item "purchases" in the App Store App again.