SAN FRANCISCO – Facebook released new security measures to protect users in Afghanistan yesterday, after the lightning takeover of the country by the Taliban – a group that is already barred on the social media platform.
The tech company said users can now shield their posts from people they do not know, following recommendations from activists, journalists and civil society groups.
Users of Facebook-owned Instagram in Afghanistan will receive notifications informing them of methods to protect their accounts, it added.
“We are closely working with our counterparts in industry, civil society and government to provide whatever support we can to help protect people,” tweeted Facebook security policy head Nathaniel Gleicher.
He said the company has temporarily removed the ability to view a user’s friend list in Afghanistan, to guard against the risk of targeting people possibly wanted by the militants.
The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan poses tricky questions for tech giants such as Facebook and Twitter.
On WhatsApp, the account of Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid appears to have been blocked, while the Financial Times reported that a Taliban WhatsApp helpline allowing citizens to report looting has been shut down.
Facebook, which owns WhatsApp, confirmed that it has for years viewed the Taliban as a terrorist group, and is blocking its accounts on these networks, as well as Instagram.
When asked if the Taliban will protect freedom of speech, Zabihullah gave a barbed response, saying “the Facebook company, this question should be asked to them”. – AFP, August 20, 2021
