Afghanistan’s Taliban government has banned smartphone use by all government officials nationwide, threatening to smash devices and punish violators.
Afghanistan’s government workers just lost their phones — literally.
The Taliban has imposed a nationwide smartphone ban on all government officials, including judges and military personnel, Reuters reports. The order took effect June 16, and officials caught breaking it risk having their devices smashed, plus possible legal punishment.
Government workers say the ban has already thrown daily operations into chaos, with tasks once handled through WhatsApp, email and mobile communication now grinding to a halt.
Rights activists warn the move could choke off access to information, education and private communication even further, piling onto years of sweeping restrictions on women, media and civil society since the Taliban took power in 2021.
The Taliban administration did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
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