The Taliban plan to ban TikTok and PUBG in Afghanistan within the next three months over concerns that the popular mobile apps are leading Afghan youth “astray”.
An Afghan boy plays the video game PUBG on a mobile phone at his home in Kabul. (AFP file photo)
The Taliban regime in Afghanistan plans to ban video-sharing app TikTok and popular mobile gaming app PUBG in the country within the next three months, according to a report by news agency ANI.
Earlier in April, the hardline Islamist group had announced its intent to curb access to the two apps, claiming that they were leading Afghan youth “astray”.
Taliban spokesman Inamullah Samangani said that the ban on TikTok and PUBG was necessary to “prevent the younger generation from being misled”, the BBC had previously reported.
Now, citing an announcement by the telecommunication department, media reports state the ban was announced during a meeting with the representatives of the security sector and a representative from the Sharia law enforcement administration.
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The ban on TikTok and PUBG, which enjoy a wide user base among young Afghans, will be enforced in the next 90 days. The Taliban-led interim government has directed telecommunication and internet service providers to follow guidelines within the stipulated time.
The latest ban comes after over 23 million websites were blocked by the Taliban in Afghanistan for displaying “immoral content”.
Apart from websites, many other forms of entertainment, including music, movies, and television soaps were also banned by the Taliban.
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