By Innovation Times Global Affairs Desk
Kabul, The United Nations has condemned the Taliban government for imposing sweeping internet restrictions and a 48-hour nationwide blackout across Afghanistan, calling the move a violation of fundamental human rights and an assault on freedom of expression. The digital shutdown, which began on October 8, 2025, left millions of Afghans without access to communication, education, and essential online services.
According to UN human rights officials, the blackout disrupted not only personal communication but also critical sectors such as banking, media, and emergency services, deepening the isolation of ordinary Afghans already struggling under severe economic and political hardship. The UN warned that restricting access to the internet directly undermines the right to information and freedom of opinion, both of which are enshrined in international law.
“The internet is not a privilege, it is a lifeline,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). “Blocking access silences communities, disrupts livelihoods, and cuts people off from the world, especially women and youth who rely on digital spaces for education and employment.”
The Taliban government has not issued a detailed explanation for the blackout but has previously justified similar measures as part of “national security efforts” to prevent what it terms “online misinformation.” Analysts, however, suggest that the move is part of a broader campaign to tighten control over digital spaces, censor dissent, and restrict the activities of independent journalists and civil society groups.
Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban have steadily imposed a series of restrictions on social media platforms, messaging apps, and online news outlets, creating what rights groups describe as a “digital prison.” Internet service providers have been ordered to comply with Taliban monitoring directives or face closure, further eroding privacy and digital freedoms across the country.
Technology experts in Kabul report that the blackout also crippled the operations of universities, e-commerce businesses, and humanitarian agencies, many of which depend on digital infrastructure to deliver aid and maintain communication with global partners. “It’s not just about connectivity, it’s about survival,” said an Afghan IT professional who requested anonymity for security reasons.
The UN has called on the Taliban to restore unrestricted internet access and to adhere to their obligations under international human rights conventions. Human rights organizations have echoed that call, urging global technology companies and foreign governments to support Afghan digital resilience through alternative connectivity solutions, including satellite internet and community-based digital hubs.
Observers warn that continued restrictions could further isolate Afghanistan from the international community and push it deeper into economic stagnation and humanitarian crisis. “When you silence a nation’s internet, you silence its future,” said one UN official.
