Facebook unveils curbs for Taliban-seized Afghanistan; blocks militants' accounts on WhatsApp, Instagram
The company said users can now shield their posts from people they don't know after recommendations from activists, journalists and civil society groups.
FollowSan Francisco: While raking brains to stabilise social media in the war-torn country, Facebook released new security measures to protect users in Afghanistan after the Taliban’s blitz takeover of the country by the Taliban, who are already barred from the social media giant's platforms.
The company said users can now shield their posts from people they don't know after recommendations from activists, journalists and civil society groups.
Also, Facebook-owned Instagram users in Afghanistan will receive notifications informing them of methods to protect their accounts.
"We're working closely with our counterparts in industry, civil society and government to provide whatever support we can to help protect people," tweeted Nathaniel Gleicher, head of Facebook's security policy.
He added that the company has temporarily removed the ability to view a user's friend list and search an accounts friends list in Afghanistan, to guard against the risk of targeting people possibly wanted by the Taliban.
Tech giants such as Facebook and Twitter are in a confused state and have many unanswered questions as the militants' seized power in Afghanistan.
WhatsApp, has blocked the account of Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, , while the Financial Times reported that a Taliban WhatsApp helpline allowing citizens to report looting had been shut down.
Facebook which owns WhatsApp confirmed that it has for years viewed the Taliban as terrorists, and is blocking the group's accounts on these networks, as well as on Instagram.
The policy prompted a barbed response from Mujahid when asked if the Taliban would protect freedom of speech.
"The Facebook company, this question should be asked to them," he said.
(With inputs from agency) Â
