Afghanistan Imposes Temporary Internet Shutdown for Online Monitoring

DID Press: A nationwide internet outage in Afghanistan has been described as a temporary measure aimed at enhancing oversight of the digital space and monitoring telecommunications operators, according to local media reports.

The move, which sparked widespread concern among citizens, was reportedly implemented to strengthen control over private networks and better manage online activity across the country.

Sources say the decision by authorities in Kabul particularly targets operators whose databases are hosted outside Afghanistan — a practice officials have flagged as a potential security risk.

Over the past two months, the Taliban government had issued warnings to telecom providers regarding compliance with national security directives. The internet shutdown was reportedly enacted following continued disregard for these instructions.

Local media indicated that the outage is temporary, with services expected to be restored in the near future.