AustriaThe Taliban in Afghanistan have imposed a ban on government employees using smartphones, with violations potentially leading to dismissal, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The directive, which has been in effect since mid-June, is being implemented inconsistently across different government offices. Some officials have stopped using social media platforms like Facebook, while others continue posting via laptops after work hours. Official Taliban accounts remain active on social media despite the ban. This new restriction follows internal debates within the Taliban leadership over internet usage, with hardliners viewing smartphones as a moral corruption and pragmatists in Kabul seeing them as essential for economic activities. In October 2025, the Taliban had previously shut down internet access nationwide for two days under the order of their leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, to prevent 'unmorality.' Smartphones are considered crucial for communication in Afghanistan, with official documents frequently shared through WhatsApp.
Bias read (Center): While the article reports on a politically sensitive issue involving the Taliban’s internal policies and their impact on governance, it presents the information objectively without overtly favoring any particular ideological stance. It includes perspectives from both hardliners and pragmatists, and,
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