Taliban Expands Fiber Optic Internet Ban Across Afghan Provinces, Severely Restricting Access

The Taliban has begun a systematic shutdown of fiber-optic internet across Afghanistan, starting with provinces like Balkh and Parwan, citing the prevention of "immorality" as justification. This crackdown severely impacts women and girls, who rely on the internet as their last connection to education and community, especially after losing access to schools and jobs under Taliban rule. Journalists report that the shutdown has crippled news coverage, threatening freedom of information and public awareness, with fears that Afghanistan could descend into complete silence and increased repression. While the Taliban continue to use the internet for their own propaganda, their actions aim to control and limit citizens' access to independent news and dissenting voices. The internet remains the critical lifeline for many Afghans to access education, communications, and human rights reporting, making this shutdown a devastating blow to civil society and the future of the country. Protests from business owners and media professionals highlight the economic and social consequences of the ban, with concerns about a potential domestic-only, tightly controlled internet system emerging.