If it did have something to do with the real prison, I don't understand why whatever's happening there would manifest itself this way here. Real technical issues could disturb this simulation, but that would take the form of... glitches. Irregularities. This seems too intentional to be attributable to error.
[Well, now his suggestion just seems stupid.] I keep forgetting how small Marina's population is. It's amazing that you can even sustain the force at its current size.