The Taliban have ordered a sweeping ban on the use of smartphones by government officials, raising concerns among analysts that this could foreshadow broader restrictions on the entire population. The directive, issued by the Taliban's military courts and reviewed by the Guardian, took effect this week and applies to all ranks, from high-ranking officials to general mujahideen and service staff.
In a video published online, a Taliban official is seen reading the ban order from his phone while another person destroys smartphones. The order states: "If anyone uses one, their mobile phone will be smashed and legal and sharia punishment will be imposed on the violator." Exemptions require a written decree from the Taliban's supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. The Guardian was unable to reach a Taliban spokesperson for comment.
Ad-Hoc Implementation and Broader Implications
Reports and sources inside Afghanistan indicate that the bans are being implemented in an ad-hoc manner. In some areas, only government officials are targeted, while in others, the restrictions extend to women, civilians, medical workers, schoolteachers, and students. An analyst working on Afghanistan noted, "A lot of things happen at the local level because of what someone local has decided. But it could also be a prelude to a blanket ban, and they are just testing the waters."
Previous Internet Blackouts
The smartphone ban follows escalating efforts by the Taliban to cut Afghanistan off from the global internet. In September, authorities ordered a two-day internet blackout, vaguely justified by concerns over pornography. The order stated it was to "prevent immorality." However, the analyst said the cutoff was done hastily and without foresight, freezing commerce and affecting emergency services and aviation. The private sector, banking sector, and even the Taliban's own security sector and supreme leader's office realized the move was ill-conceived, leading to the restoration of internet services.
Driving Factors Behind the Ban
Several factors likely drove the latest ban. Street demonstrations in Herat, following the Taliban's arrest of women and girls for "improper hijab," saw Taliban forces firing into a crowd, killing at least two people. The analyst suggested that videos of the protests raised alarms, prompting the Taliban to try to contain the narrative. However, the push for smartphone bans predates the protests, driven by fears of internal leaks and concerns that smartphone use erodes productivity among officials.
Local Implementation in Herat
In Herat province, two government employees said bans on smartphones had been in place for months. One employee shared, "About two months ago they said not to bring your mobile phones to the office. Me and a few colleagues didn't take it seriously. They confiscated them, and after we made a fuss, they smashed our phones," a loss estimated at 8,000 afghanis (approximately £95).
The analyst noted that the Taliban worry about employees being on their phones all the time instead of working, and they believe smartphones have no place at work. Additionally, leaks are a significant problem, as government officials photograph documents and record meetings, which then find their way into the public domain before the supreme leader approves them.
Unique Approach to Governance
While employees wasting time online and leaking information are common governance challenges, the analyst highlighted the Taliban's unique approach: "Smartphones and being online affecting productivity to a certain extent is universal. The difference here is that I haven't seen any other countries legislating against it."
Zahra Nader is editor-in-chief at Zan Times.
