WhatsApp is said to be one of the most important communication media for the Taliban group that is now in power in Afghanistan. But it is likely that they will have difficulty using it again because Facebook has imposed a ban on the Taliban from using its services.
Facebook said it had blocked WhatsApp accounts linked to the Taliban shortly after the group took control of Kabul. The Taliban are said to want to use WhatsApp to help them govern.
"The Taliban are designated a terrorist organization under United States law and we have banned them from our services based on Dangerous Organization policies," said a Facebook spokesperson.
A WhatsApp spokesperson said that the company is following the country's policies. "This includes banning accounts that appear to be official accounts of the Taliban. We are seeking more information from US authorities regarding the developing situation in Afghanistan," he said.
He added that WhatsApp accounts controlled by the Taliban or on their behalf would be banned. Not only on WhatsApp, Facebook also prohibits content related to the Taliban from circulating on Instagram, which is also one of its subsidiaries.
The Taliban themselves have criticized Facebook for the implementation of the ban. They call it a blockade of free speech.
Blocking Taliban content on Facebook and Instagram is easier to do because it can be monitored directly. Unlike WhatsApp where messages can only be read by the sender and recipient. So how does WhatsApp determine whether an account belongs to the Taliban or not?
WhatsApp did not explain the process in detail. Maybe they saw certain patterns or information to block accounts owned by the Taliban.