NetBlocks Confirms Facebook and Instagram Blocked Across Afghanistan Amid Internet Restrictions
After a two-day nationwide telecommunications blackout in Afghanistan, residents across various provinces have reported severe difficulties accessing social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, with access significantly restricted.
Journalists in different parts of the country, particularly in provincial centers, have stated that these sites are inaccessible on smartphones, coinciding with a notable slowdown in internet speed. Local sources have complained about the lack of prior notification regarding these restrictions.
The international organization NetBlocks, which monitors global internet activity, has confirmed that the restrictions were implemented by several telecom companies in Afghanistan. Technical patterns indicate that these disruptions were deliberate and targeted. The restrictions have primarily affected mobile phone services, although some fixed-line internet connections have also been impacted.
In recent weeks, the Taliban administration has cut high-speed internet in certain areas, an action they claim is aimed at “combating moral corruption.” However, observers and human rights organizations criticize this move as a tool to suppress freedom of expression and limit communication.
The recent extensive blackout, carried out without any prior warning, has halted daily business activities and prevented people from making calls or accessing information from outside the country. These measures have further eroded public trust in the Taliban administration and increased widespread dissatisfaction.
According to data from the website DataReportal, at the beginning of this year, approximately 13.2 million Afghans had internet access, representing nearly one-third of the country’s population, with nearly 4 million of them using social media networks. Restrictions like these not only disrupt people’s access to information but also further tighten the country’s social environment.
