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Taliban imposes nationwide smartphone ban for government officials
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has banned all civil and military officials from using smartphones by order of a military court. Violators will have their phones broken and face legal action.
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has banned public employees from using smartphones at work nationwide. According to a military court decision, the ban took effect on June 16.
The order covers all civil and military institution employees, including judges. Those who violate the rule will have their mobile phones broken and face legal action.
The Taliban administration did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.
Government employees reported that the ban has significantly disrupted official operations, with many administrative processes effectively halted. One employee said, "Previously, most work was conducted via mobile phone, WhatsApp, and email. Now the impact is so great that processes have come to a standstill."
The Panjshir Governorate also announced that the ban would be enforced in all its offices.
Rights advocates noted that smartphones are one of the few tools Afghans use to access education, document violations, communicate privately, and obtain uncensored information. They stated that the ban could be one of the steps to tighten control over public life since the Taliban's return to power in 2021.
Since then, the Taliban administration has imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, and suppressed media and civil society. Girls are barred from secondary schools and universities, many women have been fired from jobs, and activists and journalists face intimidation, detention, and censorship.
Sanam Kabiri, a women's rights activist based in Australia, commented, "Today, a smartphone is no longer just a tool for entertainment. When its use is banned in government offices, concerns grow that the aim may go beyond maintaining administrative order to restricting access to information and communication."
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