Social media content limited in Afghanistan confirmed government sources

The restrictions are placed on the content of some social media platforms in Afghanistan, the Taliban government sources told Afghanistan to the BBC.

Filters are applied to limit certain types of content on sites, including Facebook, Instagram and X, sources at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology said.

It is not clear exactly what kind of publications are filtered. Some social media users in Kabul have told the BBC that videos in their Facebook accounts are no longer visible, while access to Instagram is also limited.

These restrictions on the content of social media come a week after the Internet and telecommunications services have been cut throughout the country for two days.

The move caused widespread problems for the citizens and its end was greetedS

The 48-hour eclipse interrupted business and flights, limited access to emergency services and caused fears of further isolation of women and girls whose rights are highly eroded, since the solid Islamist group returned to power in 2021.

Social media users in Afghanistan complain of limited access to different platforms in different provinces since Tuesday.

A Taliban Government Source says: “Some kind of controls are applied to limit certain types of platform content such as Facebook, Instagram and X.

“We hope that this time there will be no complete ban on the Internet.

“Filtering is applied almost throughout the county and most provinces are covered now.”

There is no official explanation from the Taliban government officials for restrictions.

The NetBlocks cybersecurity organization said “the restrictions have already been confirmed to multiple suppliers, the model shows a deliberate restriction.” Social sites were periodically available for smartphones, according to AFP news agency.

A man working at a government office in Eastern province of Nangarhar has told the BBC that he can open Facebook, but can’t see photos or play videos.

He said “the Internet is very slow overall.”

Another user in the province of South Kandahar, who runs a private business, said his optical internet has been cut off since Tuesday, but mobile phones are working, with Facebook and Instagram being “heavily slow”.

The Taliban government did not explain the general exclusion last week. Last month, however, a spokesman for the Taliban governor in the northern Balkh province said access to the Internet was blocked “to prevent vices.”

After the return of power, the Taliban imposed many restrictions in accordance with their interpretation of the Islamic Law of Sharia.

Afghan women have told the BBC that Internet was a rescue line to the outside world As the Taliban has banned girls over the age of 12 to receive education.

Women’s work options were also very limited and in September books written by women were removed from universities.