The Taliban's Internet Blackout: A Tool of Digital Authoritarianism in Afghanistan

In mid-September 2025, Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada ordered a nationwide shutdown of Afghanistan's fiber-optic internet network, beginning in Balkh province and rapidly expanding to other regions, including Baghlan, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Nangarhar, Takhar, and Herat. This action has been characterized as a form of digital authoritarianism, severing access to education, information, and commerce, and marking a significant blow to Afghanistan's already fragile civic space.

Afghanistan Offline: How Taliban's Internet Blackout Fuels Authoritarian Rule – KabulNow

The internet blackout has severely impacted Afghanistan's economy, which relies heavily on fiber-optic infrastructure for secure banking and business operations. Over 80% of business transactions occur online, and the shutdown has forced more than 150 bank branches to suspend operations, leaving hundreds of thousands of customers unable to access their accounts. The World Bank reported that the disruption threatens $2.3 billion in annual exports and has caused an 18% drop in foreign direct investment. Trade bottlenecks and delays have further fractured supply chains, with entrepreneurs warning that the situation is existential for their businesses.

Afghanistan Offline: How Taliban's Internet Blackout Fuels Authoritarian Rule – KabulNow

The blackout has also crippled Afghanistan's media sector. The Committee to Protect Journalists described the ban as an "unprecedented escalation of censorship," with fewer than 150 media outlets remaining under Taliban control, down from over 600 prior to August 2021. Female journalists, who constituted 15% of the workforce before the Taliban's return, have been largely excluded from the profession. The Afghanistan Media Support Organization noted that the blackout poses a grave threat to freedom of expression and the work of the media, contributing to Afghanistan's ranking of 175th out of 180 countries in the 2025 Global Press Freedom Index.

Afghanistan Offline: How Taliban's Internet Blackout Fuels Authoritarian Rule – KabulNow

The fiber-optic shutdown has disproportionately affected Afghan women, who relied on the internet for employment and social connection. An estimated 120,000 women engaged in remote work or online businesses are now facing significant barriers. The removal of internet access has not only cut off economic opportunities but has also exacerbated mental distress among women, who used online platforms for emotional support and community engagement. Rights groups view this as a deliberate act of exclusion aimed at silencing women's voices in a society where they are already marginalized.

Afghanistan Offline: How Taliban's Internet Blackout Fuels Authoritarian Rule – KabulNow

The Taliban's decision to disable the fiber-optic network has jeopardized essential government functions, including civil registration and trade operations. The shutdown has hindered the Taliban's ability to coordinate responses to emergencies, such as the recent earthquake in western Afghanistan, where digital communication was crucial for sharing information and mobilizing international aid.

Afghanistan Offline: How Taliban's Internet Blackout Fuels Authoritarian Rule – KabulNow

Critics argue that the Taliban's justification for the internet ban, framed as a measure to "prevent immorality," is misleading and serves to mask the broader implications of dismantling digital access. Former Afghan education minister Sayed Ahmad Shah Sadaat warned that the blackout would negatively impact all areas of life, emphasizing that the Taliban lacks an alternative internet system.

Afghanistan Offline: How Taliban's Internet Blackout Fuels Authoritarian Rule – KabulNow

• “If I can’t respond to emails from clients in Dubai and India promptly, my business will suffer. I have not been able to sleep.” — Atta Mohammed, Marble Contractor

Afghanistan Offline: How Taliban's Internet Blackout Fuels Authoritarian Rule – KabulNow

• “not only disrupts millions of citizens’ access to free information and essential services, but also poses a grave threat to freedom of expression and the work of the media.” — Afghanistan Media Support Organization

Afghanistan Offline: How Taliban's Internet Blackout Fuels Authoritarian Rule – KabulNow

The Taliban's internet blackout represents a calculated act of exclusion, suppressing dissent and further isolating an already marginalized population. The international community is urged to recognize this violation of fundamental human rights and advocate for the restoration of internet access in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Offline: How Taliban's Internet Blackout Fuels Authoritarian Rule – KabulNow