Taliban ban smartphones for government workers, raising fears of wider internet crackdown

The ban and its scope

A directive from Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, circulated last week and taking effect on 17 June, prohibits all government personnel, civilian and military, regardless of rank, from using smartphones. The order, attributed to the Supreme Court but never officially published, states that only Akhundzada can grant written exemptions. Officials in Ghazni and Badakhshan provinces confirmed the ban was read aloud to department heads on Wednesday.

“If anyone uses one, their mobile phone will be smashed and legal and sharia punishment will be imposed on the violator.”

Despite the prohibition, several state bodies continued posting on WhatsApp on Wednesday afternoon, AFP reported. Smartphone use remains widespread in Afghan cities, including within the public administration.

Penalties and enforcement

Consequences for violations vary by source but include immediate dismissal, criminal prosecution, and prison terms of up to six months. The Guardian reviewed a video showing a Taliban official reading the ban from his phone while another person smashed devices. Implementation has been ad‑hoc: in some areas only government workers are targeted, while in others the ban has reportedly been extended to women, civilians, medical staff, teachers, and students.

“A lot of things happen at the local level, because of what someone local has decided. But also, it could be a prelude to a blanket ban and they are just testing the waters.”

Wider context

This is the latest in a series of moves to isolate Afghanistan from the internet. In September, authorities imposed a two‑day nationwide blackout, officially to “prevent immorality” linked to pornography. The shutdown froze commerce, banking, and emergency services, prompting a swift reversal after internal backlash. The analyst told the Guardian that the Taliban leadership realised they “didn’t really think this through.”

The smartphone ban also follows street protests in Herat after women and girls were arrested for “improper hijab”; Taliban forces reportedly fired into the crowd, killing at least one person. The regime has steadily tightened restrictions since returning to power in August 2021, particularly targeting women and girls.