Facebook deletes Taliban accounts and content... Twitter likely to take action as well

Taliban members who seized the presidential palace in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Facebook has designated the Taliban as a terrorist organization and is deleting content that promotes or supports the Taliban.

Adam Mosseri, CEO of Instagram, a subsidiary of Facebook, stated in an interview with Bloomberg on the 16th (local time) that the Taliban is listed as a dangerous organization on Facebook, and any content representing or promoting the Taliban is prohibited.

Accordingly, Facebook is actively removing Taliban-related content on its social networking service (SNS) platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

The Taliban has been using SNS to gain supporters and promote their ideology.

In particular, the Taliban is reported to have actively used WhatsApp, Facebook's messenger service, in Afghanistan.

Regarding this, a Facebook spokesperson said they are closely monitoring the situation following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan and that WhatsApp will take action against accounts related to banned organizations in Afghanistan. The actions include account deletions, the spokesperson added.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Attention is also focused on Twitter, which the Taliban has used for various statements and announcements.

According to Twitter's regulations, accounts of organizations that promote terrorism or violence against civilians are not allowed.

Therefore, there is speculation that Twitter will soon delete Taliban accounts as well.

When asked about the Taliban's use of Twitter, Twitter stated that it has policies regarding violent organizations and online hate conduct but did not specify how it classifies the Taliban, according to foreign media reports.

Emerson Brooking, senior fellow at the think tank Atlantic Council, said in an interview with Bloomberg, "The decisions that Facebook and Twitter will soon make will directly affect many people under Taliban rule."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.