KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban’s restrictions on internet access and social media violate citizens’ fundamental rights, UN experts warned Friday, following a two-day nationwide internet blackout and newly imposed restrictions on popular social media platforms.
Afghanistan experienced a 48-hour internet shutdown from September. 29, reportedly ordered directly by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. The move followed earlier cuts to fiber-optic services in several provinces.
Earlier this week, the Taliban restricted social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. The group has not provided a formal explanation for the restrictions.
In a statement, UN experts, including Richard Bennett, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, said the measures are part of a broader and deliberate strategy to control public discourse and regulate societal conduct.
“Internet and telecommunications shutdowns seriously impede other rights, including work, health, and education, and in a context like Afghanistan, would likely further increase poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity,” the experts said.
They added that cutting or limiting connectivity also undermines commercial activity, affecting Afghanistan’s fragile economy.
“Women and girls are disproportionately affected, as many rely on online platforms for learning, work, and business opportunities,” the experts noted.
The UN experts called on Taliban authorities to restore full access and refrain from further restrictions that violate civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.
“Any efforts to silence Afghan voices not only hampers efforts to hold perpetrators accountable, they may enable human rights violations to continue unchecked,” they warned.
