CCTV network will help fight crime, human rights groups fear that it will be used to enforce strict Taliban-imposed morality rules and suppress opposition
The Taliban’s police force has installed 90,000 CCTV cameras across Kabul, monitoring the daily lives of the city’s six million residents in what they describe as an effort to enhance security and reduce crime. However, critics warn that the extensive surveillance network could be used as a tool for mass control and suppression of dissent, the BBC has reported.
According to the report, the cameras are equipped with facial recognition technology and can categorise individuals based on their age, gender, and even the length of their beard.
Taliban Defends Mass Surveillance
Khalid Zadran, spokesperson for the Taliban police chief, told the BBC that authorities monitor the entire city from a central control room.
“If we detect anything suspicious or criminal in any area, we inform the local police for action,” Zadran said, highlighting that the live surveillance enables swift responses to potential threats.
Inside the control room, officers watch real-time footage from across the city, tracking details from car licence plates to facial expressions. Zadran also claimed the system offers high-resolution zoom capabilities, allowing security personnel to identify individuals from kilometres away.
Human Rights Concerns Over Mass Surveillance
While the authorities argue that the CCTV network will help fight crime, human rights groups fear that it will be used to enforce strict Taliban-imposed morality rules and suppress opposition.
The US-based human rights organisation Amnesty International has raised concerns that installing cameras in the name of national security could allow the Taliban to continue restrictive policies, particularly against women’s rights and public freedoms.
Security vs. Privacy Debate
Before the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Afghanistan faced high crime rates, with threats from Islamic State militants, kidnappings, and carjackings. After regaining control, the Taliban pledged to restore security and reduce crime. However, critics argue that while security may improve, the widespread surveillance risks compromising personal freedoms and enabling mass state control over the population.
As the system continues to expand, concerns grow over who will be monitored, how the data will be used, and whether privacy will be respected in a country already under tight restrictions on civil liberties.