The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says a possible ban on Facebook in Afghanistan will further impede the free flow of information in the country, but the Taliban says FB has itself restricted freedom of expression and does not allow issues related to the Taliban to be published.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said it was alarmed by reports that the Afghan rulers plan to restrict or block access to Facebook in Afghanistan.
“The Taliban’s plan to restrict or block access to Facebook would be a further blow to freedom of information in Afghanistan,” said Beh Lih Yi, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator.
“Social media platforms, including Facebook, have helped to fill a void left by the decline of the Afghan media industry since the Taliban’s August 2021 takeover and the ensuing crackdown on press freedom. The proposed ban highlights the worsening censorship by the Taliban.”
However, Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology spokesman Inayatullah Alokozay said that their ministry had proposed the ban on Facebook, but the cabinet and leaders would decide the matter.
According to him, other countries have also blocked Facebook and similar platforms based on their own interests and policies.
Alkozai said “if this plan is approved, Facebook will be closed and if it is not approved, it is necessary to impose restrictions so that the content of Facebook is filtered and cases that are in conflict with Afghanistan’s beliefs, culture, nicknames and traditions should be removed.”
When contacted, Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid told CPJ via messaging app that “Facebook will not be banned, but restrictions will be imposed on it.”
sa/ma
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