This archive report was first published on 23 August 2021.
August 23, 2021, marked a significant day for Facebook as it took unprecedented measures to protect its users in Afghanistan from potential reprisals by the Taliban.
Facebook's head of security, Nathaniel Gleicher, announced in a series of tweets that the company had temporarily disabled the ability to view and search friend lists of Facebook accounts inside Afghanistan.
This move represents a significant shift in Facebook's approach to user security, acknowledging the risks associated with having personal information available on social networks.
The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan has sparked widespread fear among Afghans, with many deleting their social media accounts and messages out of concern that their digital footprints could make them targets of the former insurgents.
Historically, the Taliban has meted out brutal retribution against Afghans with ties to the country's former government or Western countries.
Despite Facebook's strict bans on the Taliban, the group has become increasingly sophisticated in its use of social media, with dozens of new accounts appearing on the platform in recent days.
