Nationwide Internet Shutdown Deepens Afghanistan’s Digital Isolation and Economic Crisis

DID Press: A new survey conducted by DID Press reveals that a majority of Afghanistan citizens view the Taliban government’s decision to cut off nationwide internet access as a serious threat to freedom of expression, the economy, and education. More than half of respondents believe the consequences of this move will be far-reaching and devastating.

According to the poll results, 52% of participants said the Taliban’s internet shutdown would cause the most extensive damage to the country — from information isolation and a collapse in digital business activity to disruptions in education and communication.

Meanwhile, 25% emphasized that the primary consequence would be the suppression of free speech and growing informational isolation, trapping society within a closed environment devoid of access to global knowledge.

Another 8% identified the crisis in education and communications as the most significant outcome, particularly for students and young people who rely on online learning resources. Only 4% of respondents said that the greatest damage would be felt by the business and digital commerce sectors — industries that had represented one of the few hopes for Afghanistan’s struggling economy.

The findings reflect widespread public concern over the Taliban’s restrictive policies, which not only shrink the space for free expression but also threaten to push the country’s fragile economy and education system into deeper crisis.