{"id":122192,"date":"2025-10-14T21:05:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T21:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/122192\/"},"modified":"2025-10-14T21:05:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T21:05:08","slug":"talibans-new-internet-restrictions-keep-afghanistan-out-of-the-global-spotlight-global-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/122192\/","title":{"rendered":"Taliban\u2019s New Internet Restrictions Keep Afghanistan Out of the Global Spotlight \u2014 Global Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/internetrestrictions2.jpg\" width=\"629\" height=\"472\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Though access is back, throttling and platform blocks persist, reflecting tightened internet restrictions nationwide. Credit: Learning Together.\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Though access is back, throttling and platform blocks persist, reflecting tightened internet restrictions nationwide.  Credit: Learning Together.<\/p>\n<ul id=\"author-page-update\">\n<li class=\"author\">by External Source\u00a0(kabul)<\/li>\n<li>Tuesday, October 14, 2025<\/li>\n<li class=\"news-source\">Inter Press Service<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>KABUL, October 14 (IPS)  &#8211; At the end of September, the Taliban abruptly severed Wi-Fi and fiber-optic internet in Afghanistan for 48 hours without any explanation. The disruption caused consternation and suffering among millions of Afghans, especially those who depend on the internet for education and online commerce.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Closing girls\u2019 schools had not entirely stopped students from pursing education, as many found workarounds through online classes. They therefore, targeted Wi-Fi and fiber-optic internet to close off all those possibilities<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Even though the internet blockage has been lifted, its speed is significantly lower than normal, and certain social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook appear to be intentionally restricted, according to foreign journalists reporting from the country.<\/p>\n<p>Nilam, 23, recalls, how her online English language lesson was suddenly disconnected, leaving her desperate<b>. <\/b>\u201cAt that moment, my world went dark. I felt like I had lost everything and all my dreams were destroyed right in front of me\u201d. She recounts the previous decrees issued by the Taliban that closed down schools and universities, \u201cand how many times I was forced to stay home\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Online English courses, she said, was the only available channel left to her to learn a language and find a job, or study abroad. And when it appeared that it was also blocked she was lost and in total despair.<\/p>\n<p>As she colourfully puts it, \u201cIt was as if I were living in the century of carrier pigeons; the Taliban have cut us off from the flow of global progress\u201d, she said.<\/p>\n<p>The Taliban\u2019s stated reason for yanking Afghans off the internet was to curb \u201cimmorality,\u201d arguing that widespread access among young people to the internet, and the use of smartphones generate moral corruption.<\/p>\n<p>However, media experts reject that explanation as a cover for the Taliban\u2019s main objective, which is to deny girls\u2019 access to education, the flagship policy of the Islamist group since it returned to power four years ago.<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/internetrestrictions1.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-192627\" class=\"size-full wp-image-192627\" alt=\"Many women in Afghanistan relied on online study; tightening internet restrictions now make it far more difficult. Credit: Learning Together.\" width=\"629\" height=\"472\"  \/>Many women in Afghanistan relied on online study; tightening internet restrictions now make it far more difficult. Credit: Learning Together.<\/p>\n<p>They first began by shutting off wireless internet in the provinces of Balkh, Baghlan, Kandahar, and Paktia. This was extended to fifteen other provinces the next day, denying access to internet to millions of Afghans. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ipsnews.net\/2025\/10\/afghanistan-ban-on-girls-education-linked-to-rise-in-forced-and-child-marriage\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Closing girls\u2019 schools<\/a> had not entirely stopped students from pursing education, as many found workarounds through online classes. They therefore, targeted Wi-Fi and fiber-optic internet to close off all those possibilities.<\/p>\n<p>For many low-income households, Wi-Fi was the most affordable option because several family members could simultaneously use a single connection for study and work at a relatively cheaper cost compared to mobile data.<\/p>\n<p>Nooria, in Mazar-i-Sharif, like many women who had lost jobs due to Taliban edicts, turned to online commerce to support her family<b>. <\/b><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter the fall of the republic, I turned to online selling to cover living expenses. Through this work, I could meet my own needs and help support part of my family\u2019s expenses. But now, with wireless internet cut off, continuing this work has become nearly impossible for me\u201d, she complained bitterly.<\/p>\n<p>As she explains, mobile data internet is prohibitively expensive<b>.<\/b> \u201cBy paying 2,000 Afghanis (about 26 Euros), our entire family could use wireless internet\u201d she says. \u201cMy little sister would study, my brothers would work on their lessons, and I could continue my online work. But now, if we want to buy mobile data, we would have to pay separately for each person, a cost we simply cannot afford.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/internetrestrictions3.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-192628\" class=\"size-full wp-image-192628\" alt=\"Announcement posted at an internet provider notifying customers of an internet ban under new internet restrictions. Credit: Learning Together.\" width=\"629\" height=\"489\"  \/>Announcement posted at an internet provider notifying customers of an internet ban under new internet restrictions. Credit: Learning Together.<\/p>\n<p>Ahmad, an internet service provider in Herat, emphasizes that limited access provides hardly meaningful internet use.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cApart from simple messaging on WhatsApp, nothing else will be allowed. That means no education, no online work, no research, and no free connection with the outside world\u201d, says Ahmad.<\/p>\n<p>Last month\u2019s outage was widely described by local users and providers as the most sweeping multi-province shutdown since the fall of the Afghan Republic on August 15, 2021.<\/p>\n<p>At the beginning of 2025, 13.2 million \u2013 around 30.5 percent of the population \u2013 had access to the internet in Afghanistan, according to the specialist website DataReportal. Around 4.05 million people were using social media.<\/p>\n<p>Experts believe the Taliban are attempting to completely isolate Afghan society from global communication, allowing only a small group of people connected to business or government to access the internet<b>.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>They warn that, if implemented, such restrictions would severely cripple the social, educational, and economic life of ordinary citizens. Analysts warn that this move will deal a severe blow to the education of Afghan women and girls, pushing society further into isolation.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 Inter Press Service (20251014162427)  \u2014 All Rights Reserved. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ipsnews.net\/2025\/10\/talibans-new-internet-restrictions-keep-afghanistan-out-of-the-global-spotlight\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Original source: Inter Press Service<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Where next?Related news<\/p>\n<p>Browse related news topics:<\/p>\n<p>Latest news<\/p>\n<p>Read the latest news stories:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalissues.org\/news\/2025\/10\/14\/41326\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Taliban\u2019s New Internet Restrictions Keep Afghanistan Out of the Global Spotlight<\/a> Tuesday, October 14, 2025<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalissues.org\/news\/2025\/10\/14\/41323\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">World Bank and Other MDBs Need to Tackle Rich Country GHG Emissions to Support Development<\/a> Tuesday, October 14, 2025<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalissues.org\/news\/2025\/10\/14\/41325\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Global South Can Rebalance Climate Agenda in Bel\u00e9m, Says Gambian Negotiator<\/a> Tuesday, October 14, 2025<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalissues.org\/news\/2025\/10\/14\/41322\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">UNICEF Calls for Global Support to Protect Displaced and Starving Children in Haiti<\/a> Tuesday, October 14, 2025<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalissues.org\/news\/2025\/10\/14\/41321\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">From Algorithms to Accountability: What Global AI Governance Should Look Like<\/a> Tuesday, October 14, 2025<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalissues.org\/news\/2025\/10\/14\/41332\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Israel restricts Gaza aid, saying Hamas must do more to return deceased hostages<\/a> Tuesday, October 14, 2025<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalissues.org\/news\/2025\/10\/14\/41331\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Humanitarians call for greater support amid immense needs<\/a> Tuesday, October 14, 2025<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalissues.org\/news\/2025\/10\/14\/41330\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The \u2018clean revolution is unstoppable\u2019 but will it arrive too late?<\/a> Tuesday, October 14, 2025<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalissues.org\/news\/2025\/10\/14\/41329\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">UN envoy warns Libya\u2019s transition at risk amid stalled political roadmap<\/a> Tuesday, October 14, 2025<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalissues.org\/news\/2025\/10\/14\/41328\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ukraine: Top humanitarian strongly condemns Russian attack on UN aid convoy<\/a> Tuesday, October 14, 2025<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In-depth<\/p>\n<p>Learn more about the related issues:<\/p>\n<p>Share this<\/p>\n<p>Bookmark or share this with others using some popular social bookmarking web sites:<\/p>\n<p>Link to this page from your site\/blog<\/p>\n<p>Add the following HTML code to your page:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalissues.org\/news\/2025\/10\/14\/41326\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Taliban\u2019s New Internet Restrictions Keep Afghanistan Out of the Global Spotlight<\/a>, Inter Press Service, Tuesday, October 14, 2025 (posted by Global Issues)<\/p>\n<p>\u2026 to produce this:<\/p>\n<p class=\"result copy-code-to-clipboard\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalissues.org\/news\/2025\/10\/14\/41326\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Taliban\u2019s New Internet Restrictions Keep Afghanistan Out of the Global Spotlight<\/a>, Inter Press Service, Tuesday, October 14, 2025 (posted by Global Issues)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Though access is back, throttling and platform blocks persist, reflecting tightened internet restrictions nationwide. Credit: Learning Together. by&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":122193,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[259],"tags":[10852,18,74420,18617,74422,8684,19,74421,285,17,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-122192","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-internet","8":"tag-asia-pacific","9":"tag-eire","10":"tag-external-source","11":"tag-gender","12":"tag-global-issues","13":"tag-human-rights","14":"tag-ie","15":"tag-inter-press-service","16":"tag-internet","17":"tag-ireland","18":"tag-technology"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122192","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=122192"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122192\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/122193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=122192"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=122192"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=122192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}