Taliban Internet Shutdown Harms Rights and Livelihoods in Afghanistan, HRW Warns

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that the Taliban’s nationwide internet shutdown is causing severe harm to people’s rights and livelihoods in Afghanistan, cutting off vital services and worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.

In a statement on Wednesday, HRW said the restrictions further isolate women and girls, cutting off one of the few remaining avenues for education, access to information, online work, and vital services that rely on digital connectivity.