In Kabul, the Taliban’s control over daily life is increasingly defined by surveillance. With 90,000 CCTV cameras now monitoring the city, the regime claims the system aids in crime prevention. The cameras, which track everything from facial expressions to license plates, are part of a broader effort to monitor the capital’s six million residents.
Khalid Zadran, a spokesperson for the Taliban’s police, explains that the cameras help identify suspicious gatherings, especially in neighborhoods suspected of drug use or crime. The system has led to a reported 30% reduction in crime, though these figures remain unverified.
However, critics raise alarms about the broader implications of such surveillance. Amnesty International warns that the cameras could be used to enforce the Taliban’s strict morality codes, particularly targeting women. With severe restrictions on women’s rights, including the requirement to wear a full face covering, many fear that the cameras will be used to track compliance with these laws.
Additionally, the absence of data protection laws in Afghanistan raises concerns about privacy. Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, emphasize that the Taliban’s lack of oversight means the surveillance could easily extend to monitor political dissent, further marginalizing groups like former military personnel, human rights activists, and women opposing Taliban rule.
The surveillance network is not without its costs. Some Kabul residents report being pressured to pay for nearby camera installations, exacerbating financial hardships in a country already facing a dire humanitarian crisis.
Despite official assurances that surveillance is for public safety, many Afghans, such as vegetable seller Jaber, view the system as another means of control. “We are treated like trash,” he says, reflecting the widespread feeling of powerlessness under the Taliban regime.
The growing surveillance network marks a new chapter in the Taliban’s ability to enforce its vision of governance, with profound implications for privacy, freedoms, and human rights in Afghanistan.
