EU Lawmaker Warns of ‘Digital North Korea’ as Taliban Tighten Online Controls; UNICEF Urges Lifting of Girls’ Education Ban

EU Lawmaker Warns of ‘Digital North Korea’ as Taliban Tighten Online Controls; UNICEF Urges Lifting of Girls’ Education Ban
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A European Parliament member has warned that Afghanistan is turning into a “digital North Korea” after the Taliban tightened internet restrictions and blocked several social media platforms, while UNICEF has renewed calls for the restoration of girls’ education amid a deepening national crisis.

According to Deutsche Welle, EU lawmaker Hannah Neumann said on X (formerly Twitter) that the Taliban’s recent two-day internet shutdown was merely a “test phase” of a broader campaign of censorship. Access to platforms including TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram has reportedly been restricted, with fiber-optic internet in Kandahar now reserved for government offices and private businesses.

Meanwhile, UNICEF warned that Afghanistan’s education system remains in severe crisis but could still recover if secondary education for girls resumes and investment in schools increases. The UN agency said that over two million girls remain barred from classrooms since the Taliban takeover in 2021, urging the authorities to “safeguard children’s right to learning.”

UNICEF also cited worsening economic hardship and recent earthquakes as aggravating factors, pushing more Afghan children out of school to work. The agency called on both the Taliban and international donors to act urgently, emphasizing that inclusive education is vital for Afghanistan’s stability and development.