Technology
Tumblr Automated Bans Trigger Panic Among Transgender Users, System Disabled
Tumblr users, particularly trans women, experienced account bans Wednesday due to an automated moderation error. Automattic, Tumblr's parent company, has since disabled the system and restored affected accounts, apologizing for the error.
On Wednesday, numerous Tumblr users reported account bans enacted by an automated system, causing widespread concern. Many users contacted The Verge, noting the bans disproportionately affected accounts of users identifying as trans women. The ban notices stated the action resulted from an internally-generated report, possibly using automated means. Chenda Ngak, head of communications at Automattic (Tumblr's parent company), confirmed the bans and stated that many were in error. Ngak said the company is working to maintain platform health and adapt its systems to prevent bad actors from spreading harm. The automated system incorrectly flagged several users, including members of the trans community, Ngak confirmed.
Key Facts
- An automated moderation error on Wednesday led to numerous Tumblr account bans.
- Many affected users identified as trans women, raising concerns about bias.
- Automattic, Tumblr's parent company, confirmed the erroneous bans.
- The company stated the automated system incorrectly flagged several users.
- The automated system has been disabled while improvements are implemented.
- Affected users' accounts have been restored, according to Automattic.
- Automattic apologized to those affected by the moderation error.