EE’s UK Internet Content Blocking System Goes Haywire

Customers of EE’s mobile service in the United Kingdom, specifically those who may be attempting to surf the Internet using their 3G or 4G based data connections (Mobile Broadband), are today being hit by sporadic problems that can result in legitimate websites being wrongfully blocked.

The fault, which occurs regardless of whether or not the Content Block filter has been enabled and irrespective of the websites actual content, appears to be hitting everything from Facebook to YouTube and even Apple’s Privacy Policy page.

In another example EE’s helpdesk advised at least one stricken customer, James Blessing (ISPA Chair and CTO of Keycom), to “install a vpn/proxy app to bypass the content block“; hardly an ideal solution.

A spokesperson for EE confirmed to ISPreview.co.uk this afternoon that “there has been an issue with content lock today” and advised customers to keep an eye on their EE Community Page for updates. EE further stated that the issue only appears to be impacting “a small number” of their customers, which is perhaps a matter of perspective since EE has millions of users across the UK. Certainly Twitter has been chocked full of related gripes.

The issue itself appears to have started earlier this morning and just before midday EE stated that a fix was now being applied: “[EE Community Manager] I’ve just learned that fixes to the ongoing issues some customers have experienced with content lock are currently being installed, and the lock settings are temporarily affected while these fixes go in. Please bear with us. The service should be stabilised very shortly.”

At the time of writing customers are continuing to report problems.