The Taliban’s rapid takeover of Afghanistan poses a new challenge for big US tech companies on handling content created by a group considered to be terrorists by some world governments.
A Facebook Inc spokesperson said the company was closely monitoring the situation in the country and that WhatsApp would take action on any accounts found to be linked with sanctioned organizations in Afghanistan, which could include account removal.
On Twitter Inc, Taliban spokesmen with hundreds of thousands of followers have tweeted updates during the country’s takeover.
Asked about the Taliban’s use of the platform, the company pointed to its policies against violent organizations and hateful conduct but did not answer Reuters questions about how it makes its classifications. Twitter’s rules say it does not allow groups that promote terrorism or violence against civilians.
The Taliban’s return has raised fears it will crackdown on freedom of speech and human rights, especially women’s rights, and that the country could become a haven once again for global terrorism.
Taliban officials have issued statements saying they want peaceful international relations and have promised to protect Afghans.
Major social media firms this year made high-profile decisions on handling sitting world leaders and groups in power.
These include controversial blocks of former US President Donald Trump for inciting violence around the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and bans on Myanmar’s military amid a coup in the country.
