The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said a technical error in the government’s website-blocking system caused the recent access problems affecting Tumblr users in the Philippines.
In a statement, the CICC clarified that the disruption was not the result of a deliberate order to block the microblogging platform.
According to the agency, Tumblr was mistakenly included in a list of domains being restricted as authorities implemented measures targeting illegal online gambling websites.
The system error led some internet service providers to inadvertently restrict access to Tumblr, prompting complaints from Filipino users who were suddenly unable to access the platform.
The agency said the problem stemmed from an issue in the filtering mechanism used to identify sites linked to unlicensed online gambling operations.
The CICC said it is now working with telecommunications companies and relevant stakeholders to correct the mistake and restore normal access to the platform.
It added that efforts to reverse the unintended block are already underway and that the incident is being reviewed to prevent similar technical problems from happening again.
Reports of access issues surfaced earlier this week when users in the Philippines began posting online that Tumblr could not be accessed. Others have said that they encountered warning messages that suggest the website was linked to illegal gambling activity.
The CICC emphasized that Tumblr itself is not among the platforms targeted in the government’s campaign against unauthorized online gambling sites.
