Afghanistan imposes internet blackout: What has the effect been so far?

"Telecommunications down after Taliban authorities cut fibre-optic connections in several provinces to prevent vice'. A nationwide telecoms shutdown has been imposed in Afghanistan, as part of a Taliban crackdown on immoral activities. Netblocks, a global internet watchdog, said on Monday that multiple networks in Afghanistan had been disconnected. Telephone services had also been limited, resulting in what Netblocks described as a total internet blackout in the nation of 43 million people."

"Connectivity was cut in phases on Monday, with the final stage affecting telephone services. In the past, the Taliban have voiced concern about online pornography. And earlier this month, authorities cut fibre-optic links to some provinces, with officials citing morality concerns. The incident is likely to severely limit the public's ability to contact the outside world, the group added. This is the first time that the whole of Afghanistan has faced an internet blackout under the hardline Islamist government."

"It risks cutting off the country, which is in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, just weeks after a devastating, magnitude-6 earthquake in the east of the country. Earlier this month, the Taliban began to close down internet services. On September 16, the Balkh provincial spokesperson stated that fibre-optic internet had been completely banned in the northern province. This measure was taken to prevent vice, he wrote on social media."

Taliban authorities imposed a nationwide telecoms shutdown in Afghanistan by disconnecting multiple networks, cutting fibre-optic links in several provinces, and limiting telephone services, producing a total internet blackout for about 43 million people. Connectivity reductions occurred in phases, with the final stage affecting telephone and mobile 3G/4G services. The measures follow earlier regional fibre-optic bans cited as preventing morality concerns and online pornography. The blackout risks severely limiting public contact with the outside world and hampering humanitarian assistance coordination, occurring weeks after a magnitude-6 earthquake and hitting cities such as Kabul, Herat, and Kandahar hardest.

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