ISLAMABAD: Taliban authorities in southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar province have imposed new restrictions on YouTubers and video content creators, warning them against producing and publishing videos on social media platforms, according to Afghanistan International on Wednesday.

According to the report, officials from the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice recently summoned several YouTubers and social media activists in Kandahar and ordered them to stop creating video content.

The move has alarmed young Afghan creators who say social media platforms such as YouTube have become one of the few remaining outlets for cultural expression and employment in the country.

Youtubers spoke to Afghanistan International that they made videos about the city, historical sites, markets, traditions and people’s lives.

They said some of the videos also focused on social issues, including harmful customs, drug addiction and illiteracy.

Other creators said their content had attracted thousands, and in some cases millions, of online views, helping showcase Afghan culture and daily life to international audiences.

“YouTube was one of our main sources of income, but now that making videos has been banned, we are effectively unemployed,” another creator said.

The restrictions currently appear to apply only in Kandahar province, though creators expressed concern that the policy could expand to other parts of Afghanistan.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have steadily tightened restrictions on media and public expression. Under the Taliban's morality law, the publication of images of “living beings” is prohibited.

As part of enforcing the policy, Taliban authorities have suspended state television broadcasts and shut down or restricted several local media outlets in different provinces.

International rights organizations and media advocacy groups have repeatedly condemned the Taliban’s restrictions on images and media content, calling on the authorities to respect freedom of expression and reverse policies limiting independent journalism and digital media activity in Afghanistan.

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Afghan Taliban tighten restrictions on youtubers and video creators in Kandahar