Digital Rights Weekly/ Year 4 Issue 40

Afghanistan’s Internet and Mobile Services Restored After Two-Day Outage
Cell phone and internet services in Afghanistan were restored on October 1, 2025, about 48 hours after connectivity was abruptly cut, reportedly under orders of the Taliban administration. Major providers Roshan and Etisalat resumed operations in Kabul and other cities.
A Taliban official cited “technical reasons” for the outage but did not confirm if it was ordered by the administration. The United Nations called for immediate restoration, while the Digital Accountability Collective South Asia (DACSA) condemned the shutdown, noting it left 43 million Afghans cut off from the outside world and urging accountability for what it called weaponized digital blackouts, reaffirming that internet access is a fundamental human right, not a privilege.
The outage, which began on September 29, 2025, disrupted banking, trade, remittances, and flights, and halted online learning for teenage girls and women, their only remaining educational option. It follows a series of hardline measures this year, including partial internet bans over morality concerns, reflecting tensions between the Taliban’s conservative leadership in Kandahar and more moderate officials in Kabul.

Finance Minister Khanal Responds to Over 2,200 Public Complaints via WhatsApp
Finance Minister Rameshwar Khanal has personally replied to over 2,200 WhatsApp messages and 121 emails from citizens reporting issues related to the Ministry of Finance’s services. He stated that hundreds of emails remain under review and aims to address all complaints before Dashain Tika.
Soon after taking office, the ministry received 166 complaints within six hours, prompting Minister Khanal to launch a system allowing citizens to report misconduct, bribery, or service delays directly to him.
Citizens can lodge complaints via WhatsApp, email ([email protected] / [email protected]), or the toll-free hotline 18105000410. Contact persons Undersecretary Niran Bhattarai (9851405265) and Branch Officer Pabitra Gyawali (9851405275) have also been designated to ensure effective complaint management and promote good governance within the ministry.

Meta Sued by US States Over Alleged Harm to Youth Mental Health
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing a major federal lawsuit filed by 33 US states, accusing it of misleading the public about the dangers of social media and contributing to a youth mental health crisis. The lawsuit alleges that Meta used addictive features like likes, alerts, and filters to hook young users while hiding the platforms’ risks. It also claims Meta collected data from children under 13, violating privacy laws. Meta said it was “disappointed” by the lawsuit, noting it has introduced over 30 safety tools for teens and called for collaboration on industry standards.
The case follows a 2021 whistleblower revelation that Meta knew its products could harm teens. While the company denies that Instagram is “toxic,” states are seeking financial damages and an end to Meta’s allegedly harmful practices.

Meta Expands “Teen Accounts” with Stronger Parental Controls and Safety Features
Meta has begun rolling out “teen accounts” on Facebook and Messenger, adding parental controls and enhanced safety features for young users. The move follows the company’s claim that millions of teenagers already use its platforms, including Instagram, where teen accounts were first introduced last year.
The new accounts, now being expanded globally, will be mandatory for teenagers aged 13–15, requiring parental consent to modify security settings. Meta will also use AI tools to detect false age claims. Parents can monitor screen time, messaging activity, and privacy settings to help ensure safer online experiences.