Afghan Women Silenced by Internet Blackout as Connectivity Lifelines Collapse

When the Taliban cut off Internet and phone networks across Afghanistan earlier this year, it wasn't just a communications disruption—it was an erasure of millions of women's voices. For countless Afghan women and girls, especially those already banned from schools, universities, most jobs, and public spaces, the sudden digital blackout severed their last fragile link to the outside world — to education, income, information, and hope.

Although access has since been partially restored, the message remains unmistakably clear: in Afghanistan, women's digital freedom can be taken away overnight, underscoring the precariousness of their existence under one of the world's most repressive regimes.

A Lifeline Suddenly Cut

In Afghanistan today, many women still lack access to even a basic phone or reliable Internet connection, while others face barriers of literacy, affordability, and surveillance. Yet for those who managed to stay online, connectivity had become a lifeline — a way to learn, to work, and to connect beyond the walls imposed on their lives.

"When the Internet goes dark, Afghan women lose their last space to exist, to learn, and to be seen," said a women's rights advocate based in Kabul.

The blackout, imposed nationwide in September 2025, came only a month after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, devastating homes and infrastructure and displacing thousands. It crippled not only communication but also humanitarian operations, halting emergency response and isolating women-led aid networks that had been providing life-saving assistance.

When the phone lines and Internet went down, women aid workers could not coordinate relief efforts, process payments, or deliver food and medicine to those in need. Humanitarian organizations were forced to suspend operations entirely in some regions.

Women survivors of gender-based violence—already facing escalating risks amid worsening economic and domestic pressures—were cut off from reporting mechanisms and psychosocial support.

"For women who are already invisible in public life, this blackout was not just digital — it was existential," one UN Women staff member in Jalalabad explained.

What Happens When Afghan Women Go Offline

In Afghanistan, where women are banned from secondary schools, universities, and most workplaces, the Internet serves as one of the last frontiers of autonomy and empowerment. Online spaces have enabled women to study, run businesses, and connect with one another, even as physical spaces have closed.

When the blackout hit, women lost far more than connectivity. They lost access to:

• Education: Online courses and study groups had become the only source of learning for girls barred from attending schools and universities.

• Work: Thousands of women ran small businesses online, selling products like handicrafts, jewelry, spices, and artwork through digital platforms. The blackout froze their incomes overnight.

• Aid and information: Women who relied on the Internet to learn about humanitarian assistance or disaster relief could no longer do so. Aid groups also lost their ability to verify recipients or transfer digital payments.

• Health and safety services: Survivors of domestic violence lost access to confidential online helplines and emergency contacts.

• Social connection: For many, social media platforms were safe spaces for expression, solidarity, and collective resistance. The blackout silenced those voices instantly.

"The Internet is not a luxury for Afghan women—it's a lifeline," said Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, in a statement following the shutdown. "When that lifeline is cut, they lose not only access to services but also their right to be heard and to hope."

Humanitarian Work Under Threat

The Internet shutdown coincided with ongoing humanitarian crises, including earthquake recovery in eastern provinces such as Kunar and Nangarhar, and the return of tens of thousands of Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan, many of whom were women and children.

Women-led organizations have been central to humanitarian response efforts, providing cash assistance, psychosocial support, and health services to affected populations. But during the blackout, communication between these organizations and their beneficiaries broke down.

"We could not contact our teams, our partners, or the women we serve," said the director of a women-led NGO in Laghman province. "Deliveries of food and medical supplies were delayed, and some of our projects had to stop completely."

With banks offline, thousands of women who rely on digital cash assistance programs were unable to withdraw money for essentials like food, medicine, or shelter. This deepened insecurity and pushed many households further into poverty.

Online Livelihoods Switched Off

For women entrepreneurs, the digital shutdown was especially devastating. Decades of progress toward women's economic participation have already been erased since 2021, when the Taliban systematically banned women from most formal employment and required male guardians for travel.

"There is no space for us to work outside our homes," said Sama, a business owner from Parwan province. "There's also no local market where we can sell our products."

Through support from UN Women, Sama had built a thriving online shop selling knitted bags, purses, and jewelry to customers inside and outside Afghanistan. Her business provided financial independence and dignity — until the blackout.

"When the Internet was cut off, I lost everything," Sama said. "My sales stopped, and I couldn't talk to my customers. It showed me how fragile our freedom really is."

Her story is one among thousands. Across Afghanistan, women-run online businesses have become the backbone of a silent economic revolution, allowing women to earn income while confined to their homes. The blackout not only silenced these digital spaces but also stripped women of economic agency, reinforcing their isolation.

A Tool of Control

The blackout was a stark reminder that technology in authoritarian settings can be both an enabler and a weapon. Under Taliban rule, Afghanistan's digital landscape has grown increasingly restricted. Women's online activities are monitored, and internet cafes, once a haven for female students and professionals, have largely disappeared.

According to recent UN data, fewer than 20% of Afghan women have Internet access, and many face social stigma or punishment for online participation. In rural areas, that number drops to single digits.

Experts warn that cutting off digital communication can also serve as a form of collective punishment — a means to suppress dissent, control narratives, and prevent coordination among activists and civil society.

"The blackout was not just technical. It was political," said a women's rights advocate in Herat. "It was a message that women's voices, even online, can be silenced at will."

UN Women's Work: Keeping Hope Online

Despite these restrictions, UN Women continues to support Afghan women and girls through its flagship programme, "Rebuilding the Women's Movement." The initiative partners with over 140 women-led organizations across 24 provinces, providing financial support, digital training, and advocacy tools.

To date, 743 women staff members have received salaries and training through the program, enabling them to continue delivering essential services in health, education, and community development — often under extraordinary risk.

"Even in darkness, Afghan women find ways to keep going," said Allison Davidian, UN Women Representative in Afghanistan. "We will continue to amplify their voices, support their organizations, and ensure that their connection to the world cannot be erased."

From Blackout to Global Solidarity

The recent shutdown has galvanized international advocacy for Afghan women's digital rights. The global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign has called on governments and tech companies to ensure safe, affordable, and reliable Internet access for all women and girls in Afghanistan.

The stakes could not be higher. For Afghan women, being online means being seen, educated, and economically active — the last remaining space where they can express themselves, organize, and dream of a future beyond imposed silence.

"When Afghan women go offline, they disappear from the world's conscience," said a UN Women statement. "We must ensure that never happens again."

A Future Worth Fighting For

As the world watches Afghanistan's ongoing struggle, the blackout serves as a powerful metaphor — and a warning. The fight for women's rights is no longer only about classrooms and offices; it is also about access to digital spaces that connect, empower, and sustain life.

The women of Afghanistan continue to resist — through online learning, entrepreneurship, and solidarity — even in the face of repeated attempts to erase them from public and digital life. Their resilience is a reminder that connectivity is not just about technology; it is about freedom.