TORONTO: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed alarm over reports that the Taliban intends to restrict or block access to Facebook in Afghanistan, warning that such a measure would further impede the free flow of information in the country.
Najibullah Haqqani, the Taliban’s acting Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology, revealed in an interview with TOLOnews TV that the group has finalized a plan to limit or entirely block Facebook access in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, the group has detained journalists, shut down Afghan news websites, and curtailed access to foreign media outlets.
CPJ’s Asia program coordinator, Beh Lih Yi, condemned the Taliban’s proposed action, stating, “The Taliban’s plan to restrict or block access to Facebook would be a further blow to freedom of information in Afghanistan.” Social media platforms like Facebook have become vital tools for sharing news and information, particularly following the decline of the Afghan media industry post-Taliban takeover.
Despite the ban on certain foreign news outlets, their Facebook pages remain accessible to readers within Afghanistan. TOLOnews, with over 4.5 million Facebook followers, relies heavily on the platform to disseminate news.
In response to CPJ’s inquiry, Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid indicated that while Facebook would not be entirely banned, restrictions would be imposed.
CPJ urges Afghan authorities to reconsider any measures that would curtail access to essential platforms like Facebook, emphasizing the critical role social media plays in upholding freedom of information amid escalating censorship by the Taliban.
