Several decades ago, various philosophers indicated that the wars of the so-called “modern era” would have as weapons something more than cannons and rifles. Much was said about chemical and nuclear weapons; However, the confrontation that is now taking place in Afghanistan could add a type of weapon that perhaps no one saw coming: Social networks such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter.
For many, these spaces for social interaction with the capacity to reach the entire world have been crucial in the debated process of the recent takeover of Kabul.
During the past weekend, the media around the world echoed the capture of Kabul, Afghanistan’s caporal, by the Taliban.
Although for the rest of the globe the news came from the hand of television notes, for Afghans the news was spread via WhatsApp.
As reported by various international media, the insurgent group used the instant messaging platform to ensure its success with messages such as “we are in charge of security in Kabul.”
This has been a fact that has demonstrated the role that the technology of platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp or Twitter has played in this moment of battle. These spaces have become resources through which the Taliban report in real time the seizure of power and progress of their movement.
Influencing the mood and perceptions of people in the midst of battle has been a weapon that the Taliban leaders have not wanted to depreciate, even though this technology comes from one of their main rivals: the United States.
For example, Mohammed Naeem, spokesman for the political office of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, accumulates more than 200 thousand followers on Twitter, while the Taliban leader, Suhail Shaheen, does the same with more than 370 thousand followers.
As has happened in the past, we know that spaces such as YouTube and Clubhouse, the favorite digital platforms of Afghans, according to data from The confidential, have been used to reinforce the discourse of these extremist groups.
The truth is that the role of propaganda platforms now seems to have evolved. And it is that now services such as WhatsApp became powerful tools of military communication, situation that once again has targeted these platforms that were born with a totally different purpose.
“Social media and instant messaging, for both the Taliban and other terrorist groups, have become the main method of proselytism, recruitment and communication. And the truth is that Europol and Interpol have been fighting terrorism on the platforms for years and they have not succeeded … There was an attempt to collaborate between Telegram and the authorities, where hundreds of groups and channels were closed, but it has once again become the main communication mechanism ”, highlighted Carlos Seisdedos, expert in cyber intelligence and judicial expertise, in statements delivered to Teknauts.
This controversy has become generalized and disrupted almost all social networks and interaction platforms that we know, with what the obvious step has been a response by these firms.
After talking about the role of WhatsApp in the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban, a spokesman for the platform affirmed for Vice that the application is unable to act on many occasions because it cannot read the content of the messages that are sent, while affirming that its service complies with the United States sanctions law and if it detects people or organizations that violate them, restrictive measures are taken immediately.
This has been conclusively demonstrated in recent hours. And it is that Facebook has confirmed that it has banned from its platforms all content that supports the Taliban, considering them a terrorist organization.
This was indicated to the company by the BBC news network, where it specified that it has assigned a group of Afghan experts to closely monitor all content that may be related to the Taliban.
“The Taliban are considered a terrorist organization under US law and we have banned them from our services under the Dangerous Organization policies. This means that we withdraw accounts held by or on behalf of the Taliban and praise, support and representation of them is prohibited, ”a Facebook spokesperson told the BBC.
Additionally, Facebook specified that its policy applies to all its platforms, such as Instagram and WhatsApp, and warned that it will take action if it locates accounts linked to the Taliban.