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Taliban imposes nationwide smartphone ban for government employees
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has banned all civil and military officials from using smartphones, following a military court order. Phones of violators will be broken and legal action taken.
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has imposed a nationwide ban on public employees using smartphones at work. According to the military court's decision, the ban took effect on June 16.
The order covers all civil and military institution employees, including judges. Cell phones of those who violate the rule will be broken and legal proceedings initiated.
The Taliban administration did not respond to requests for comment on the issue.
Government employees reported that the ban has significantly disrupted official operations, with many administrative processes effectively halted. One employee said, "Previously, most work was conducted via mobile phone, WhatsApp and email. Now the impact is so great that processes have come to a standstill."
The Panjshir Governorate also announced that the ban would be enforced across all its offices.
Rights advocates noted that smartphones are among the few tools Afghans use to access education, document violations, communicate privately and reach uncensored information. They stated the ban could be one of the Taliban's steps to tighten control over public life since returning to power in 2021.
Since then, the Taliban administration has imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, and cracked down on media and civil society. Girls are barred from secondary school and university, many women have been dismissed from jobs, and activists and journalists face intimidation, detention and censorship.
Women's rights activist Sanam Kabiri, based in Australia, said, "Today, a smartphone is no longer just a means of entertainment. When its use is banned in government offices, concerns grow that the aim may be to restrict access to information and communication beyond maintaining administrative order."
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