Afghanistan dips into information black hole as Taliban imposes Internet ban
Millions of Afghans were cut off from the world this month after the Taliban imposed a nationwide internet blackout, severing fibre-optic cables and shutting down services across the South-Central Asian country of 43 million.
According to the watchdog NetBlocks, connectivity in Afghanistan fell to 14% of normal levels, a collapse that disrupted not only access to information but also women’s education and even air travel.
The order followed a decree from Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada banning the internet as part of new “morality measures.” The group, which seized power in Kabul in 2021, has promised alternative channels of access but has yet to explain what these might be.
Reports from the ground suggest that services began cutting out before Monday evening.
"Afghanistan is now in the midst of a total internet blackout as Taliban authorities move to implement morality measures, with multiple networks disconnected through the morning in a stepwise manner; telephone services are currently also impacted,” Netblocks said.
Why it matters:
- At least eight flights due to depart from or land at Kabul International Airport on Tuesday were cancelled.
- Media outlets, including the Associated Press, reported being unable to reach their correspondents inside the country.
- For children, especially girls, the impact goes far beyond the loss of entertainment. Since the Taliban banned girls from attending middle school, the internet has been a lifeline, allowing access to classes organised by foreign educators and charitable groups.
Bigger picture:
- The extent of the blackout is still unclear, but World Bank figures suggest that around 18% of Afghans — nearly 8 million people — are connected online. All are now cut off.
- Human rights groups, including the United Nations, have sounded the alarm over the Taliban’s morality decrees since the group re-established a de facto government. These include rules requiring women to cover their entire bodies and faces, bans on using public transport alone, and prohibitions on looking at unrelated men or interacting with non-Muslims.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
