**The expansion of a vast CCTV network in Kabul raises alarms over the potential misuse of surveillance by the Taliban, especially against vulnerable populations.**
**Taliban Expands Surveillance Network Amid Growing Concerns for Civil Liberties**
**Taliban Expands Surveillance Network Amid Growing Concerns for Civil Liberties**
**As Kabul's surveillance infrastructure grows, residents fear for their privacy and rights**
In a bustling command center adorned with screens displaying live feeds from various parts of Kabul, the Taliban police showcased their ambitious effort to monitor the city's population through a network of 90,000 CCTV cameras. Khalid Zadran, a spokesperson for the Taliban police chief, expressed pride in their capabilities to surveil the daily activities of nearly six million residents. According to authorities, this extensive surveillance system was designed to combat crime; however, many critics warn it may instead serve as a tool for suppressing dissent and enforcing their strict interpretation of Sharia law.
The BBC, granted exclusive access, reported on the high-tech monitoring currently enacted in Kabul, which includes facial recognition technology capable of categorizing individuals by age, gender, and other traits. Police officers continuously scrutinize the lives of locals, with Zadran pointing out that the cameras allow them to swiftly intervene whenever they suspect illegal activities, such as drug use or gatherings of individuals labeled as suspicious.
While the Taliban initially promised to curb crime rates upon seizing control in 2021, the increase in surveillance technology—from just 850 cameras pre-Taliban to 90,000 now—has raised concerns about civil rights violations. Human rights organizations highlight the alarming implications of such surveillance, particularly for women facing restrictions in public life, such as being barred from education, employment, and freedom of movement.
Additionally, Afghan citizens report being compelled to financially contribute to the installation of surveillance cameras within their neighborhoods, creating further economic strain in a country already suffering from a humanitarian crisis. The Taliban's insistence on "voluntary" contributions, juxtaposed with threats over utilities for noncompliance, has exacerbated residents' grievances about increased governmental control.
Women like Fariba, who struggle with workplace discrimination and restrictions on public life, are especially wary of the potential for surveillance systems to infringe upon their freedoms by monitoring dress codes and behavior. Rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have sounded alarms over the lack of regulatory frameworks governing surveillance data and the undue burden placed on vulnerable communities.
With international aid slashed following the Taliban's rise to power, the economic and humanitarian crises facing Afghanistan deepen. Many citizens express frustration, feeling powerless under the watchful eyes of a regime that prioritizes surveillance over improving their living conditions. As concerns grow over the implications of heightened state monitoring, the fundamental question remains: can safety be ensured without compromising personal freedoms?
The BBC, granted exclusive access, reported on the high-tech monitoring currently enacted in Kabul, which includes facial recognition technology capable of categorizing individuals by age, gender, and other traits. Police officers continuously scrutinize the lives of locals, with Zadran pointing out that the cameras allow them to swiftly intervene whenever they suspect illegal activities, such as drug use or gatherings of individuals labeled as suspicious.
While the Taliban initially promised to curb crime rates upon seizing control in 2021, the increase in surveillance technology—from just 850 cameras pre-Taliban to 90,000 now—has raised concerns about civil rights violations. Human rights organizations highlight the alarming implications of such surveillance, particularly for women facing restrictions in public life, such as being barred from education, employment, and freedom of movement.
Additionally, Afghan citizens report being compelled to financially contribute to the installation of surveillance cameras within their neighborhoods, creating further economic strain in a country already suffering from a humanitarian crisis. The Taliban's insistence on "voluntary" contributions, juxtaposed with threats over utilities for noncompliance, has exacerbated residents' grievances about increased governmental control.
Women like Fariba, who struggle with workplace discrimination and restrictions on public life, are especially wary of the potential for surveillance systems to infringe upon their freedoms by monitoring dress codes and behavior. Rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have sounded alarms over the lack of regulatory frameworks governing surveillance data and the undue burden placed on vulnerable communities.
With international aid slashed following the Taliban's rise to power, the economic and humanitarian crises facing Afghanistan deepen. Many citizens express frustration, feeling powerless under the watchful eyes of a regime that prioritizes surveillance over improving their living conditions. As concerns grow over the implications of heightened state monitoring, the fundamental question remains: can safety be ensured without compromising personal freedoms?
