The Taliban administration in Afghanistan has implemented a ban on smartphone use for government employees, military personnel, and police officers. The directive, which took effect on June 16, 2024, followed a verbal order from supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. The order was later formalized through military court directives across the country's eight administrative zones. Officials are permitted to use feature phones, which lack touch screens and cameras, but are prohibited from using devices with photo or recording capabilities.
The policy mandates that violators face the confiscation and destruction of their devices, along with unspecified legal or sharia-based punishments. Exceptions to the rule require a written decree from Akhundzada. To enforce the measure, security officials have established monitoring lists to track employees' phone numbers and carriers, and some staff have been required to submit proof that their smartphones were destroyed.
While the official ban is currently limited to government and military sectors, reports indicate the restrictions have extended to some educational and healthcare facilities. Kabul University's leadership council announced a smartphone ban for students and staff on June 21. Health workers in rural provinces, such as Ghazni, have reported ceasing smartphone use due to fear of enforcement, noting that the shift to standard phone lines complicates the remote diagnostic practices and resource coordination previously managed via messaging apps.
The Taliban administration has not issued a formal statement regarding the specific motivations for the ban. Observers noted the directive followed the circulation of online videos showing Taliban forces responding to protests in Herat earlier in June. Some school officials have expressed support for the ban as a way to increase student focus, while affected citizens have expressed concern regarding the impact on communication and access to remote services.