Taliban smartphone ban further limits media access in Afghanistan

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 18 June 2026 |  JP Asia Desk

The Taliban have banned smartphones for government employees in many provinces, a directive AFJC says is being implemented. The move is disrupting journalists' ability to get official statements and verify developments, and undermining transparency.

Summary

KABUL — The Taliban have begun enforcing a ban on the use of smartphones by government employees across multiple Afghan provinces, a move that press freedom advocates say is further restricting journalists' access to information and complicating public communication with state institutions.

According to the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC), the measure follows a June 7 meeting in Kandahar in which Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada reportedly instructed provincial authorities to prevent government staff from using smartphones. The organization said implementation of the directive is now underway in several provinces.

Restriction expands across provinces

AFJC reported on June 17 that the order has been communicated to employees in provinces including Paktia, Khost, Logar, Balkh, Kunduz, Baghlan, Badghis, Badakhshan, Herat, Helmand, and Ghazni.

The media rights organization said the policy is being introduced amid a broader pattern of restrictions imposed on Afghanistan's media sector since the Taliban's return to power, including limits on visual content and video interviews.

Information flow disrupted

AFJC said the smartphone ban has already disrupted the flow of information from some government offices that previously relied on online communication channels. Journalists have increasingly depended on digital messaging platforms to obtain official statements, verify developments, and contact government representatives.

The organization warned that the latest measure could further reduce transparency and make it more difficult for both journalists and the public to access timely information from state institutions.

Press freedom concerns persist

Media advocates have repeatedly raised concerns about restrictions affecting reporting conditions in Afghanistan. AFJC described the smartphone ban as part of a continuing policy trajectory that limits freedom of expression and narrows avenues for information sharing.

The organization said such measures risk deepening barriers between government institutions and the media at a time when independent access to official information is already constrained.

WHY THIS MATTERS: The move illustrates how non-media regulations can have a significant impact on journalism by limiting access to sources and official information. For news organizations operating in restrictive environments, the decision highlights the growing importance of alternative verification methods and the challenges of reporting when government communication channels become increasingly inaccessible.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by JournalismPakistan, based on a publicly available report by 8 AM Media and statements from the Afghanistan Journalists Center published on June 17, 2026.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.