Information Access Limited in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan: Report

The Internews reports that after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, access to reliable information for Afghans has significantly decreased. A recent study by this organization indicates that censorship and severe restrictions have eroded public trust in government-run and private media within the country.

This research highlights how the information ecosystem in Afghanistan has undergone significant changes since the Taliban regained power. The absence of standardized mechanisms for information circulation and the Taliban’s control over media content has led many Afghan citizens to lose confidence in both Taliban-controlled government media and local private media outlets.

The report also underscores the impact of political changes on the use of social media in Afghanistan, emphasizing increased control over information flow within the country, challenges of mistrust, the spread of rumours and misinformation, and limitations on freedom of expression.

Upon their return to power in 2021, the Taliban imposed extensive restrictions on civil liberties and media activities in Afghanistan. As a result, many Afghan media outlets ceased operations, and some journalists were detained and imprisoned for not complying with the Taliban’s directives.

The Institute for News research also reveals that restrictions on women have been even more severe, resulting in decreased access to reliable information from non-official sources. The study demonstrates that women in Afghanistan have less access to credible information compared to men, as restrictions on women’s education and employment have deprived them of information from alternative sources like social groups, schools, and salons.

In Afghanistan, some women and girls, due to illiteracy, struggle to access information through social media or the internet, hindering their ability to receive accurate news or health-related information.

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