Remove social media hack content from Tumblr

Why this happens on Tumblr

• Tumblr reblogs create persistent copies of content across hundreds of unrelated blogs. A single original post can have thousands of reblogs, each requiring a separate URL in the takedown notice.
• Social media accounts are typically compromised through phishing, password reuse, and SIM swap attacks against the recovery phone number. Two factor authentication via SMS provides only partial protection.
• Most social media platforms support account recovery through identity verification. The platform's account access logs typically support law enforcement subpoena for the unauthorized access.
• Cross platform spread is the rule, not the exception. Content first appearing on Tumblr typically reaches between four and twelve additional platforms within 72 hours through reposts, mirrors, and screenshot redistribution.

The takedown process

What to do, step by step

1. 01
   Document every instance before reporting Capture full page screenshots with the URL bar visible, the posting account handle, and the upload timestamp. The social media account's access logs showing unauthorized session and device sign ins
2. 02
   Run a biometric scan to find every copy across platforms Content first appearing on Tumblr rarely stays there. ScanErase indexes 2.4 billion face embeddings across 200 plus platforms and identifies every current hosting location in a single scan, including AI generated derivatives.
3. 03
   Dispatch the takedown notice to Tumblr Tumblr accepts NCII reports through its content removal form and through its DMCA agent. The platform's 2018 adult content ban remains in effect, which means NCII reports also benefit from policy enforcement against any sexual content.
4. 04
   Preserve the original account access logs The platform that was breached retains access logs that support law enforcement subpoena for the unauthorized access. Do not change passwords or sign out of all sessions before the logs are preserved or you may trigger log rotation.
5. 05
   Notify Google and Bing for search deindexing Search engine deindexing runs in parallel to platform removal. Even after the original is removed, search engines retain cached thumbnails and snippets for weeks. File NCII removal requests with both Google and Bing alongside the platform notice.
6. 06
   File a police report and preserve the legal record 47 USC 223a TAKE IT DOWN Act for platform removal provides the federal basis for the takedown. Document every notice sent, every platform response, and every removal confirmation in a single evidence file. ScanErase produces this Verified Removal Package automatically as your case progresses.

Legal context

• Tumblr is owned by Automattic and has historically been responsive to NCII reports. The combination of the adult content ban policy and the TAKE IT DOWN Act gives multiple grounds for removal of any reblog chain.
• 47 USC 223a TAKE IT DOWN Act for platform removal
• 18 USC 1030 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act for the social media account compromise
• Capture the original post URL, the original blog name, and as many reblog URLs as possible. Tumblr's reblog graph is queryable through its API which enables batched removal requests for known reblog chains.