Smartphone Ban Robs Afghan Female Journalists of a Vital Working Tool

The ban hinders journalists’ access to information and particularly affects female journalists, who fear it will further undermine their employment prospects. Credit: Learning Together.by External Source (kabul)Thursday, October 08, 2026Inter Press Service KABUL, October 8 (IPS) - It has become difficult for Afghan journalists to obtain information from the authorities, who are permitted to use smartphones only with special authorization. This ban particularly affects women, for whom face-to-face interviews are not an option. The work of Hadia (name changed), a journalist at a Kabul-based radio station, has become significantly more difficult since the Taliban administration banned the use of smartphones within the Afghan government in June.Many of Hadia’s stories remain incomplete because she can no longer obtain information from officials via phone as she used to.“Landlines don’t offer the same capabilities as WhatsApp, and gathering information takes a lot of time. Most Taliban officials used to answer our questions via mobile apps. Where do we get our information now?” Hadia wonders.Under the new rules, using a smartphone requires special permission, and officials who defy the ...