The Taliban openly installed 62,000 security cameras and secretly positioned thousands more across Kabul city. They assert that the purpose of these surveillance cameras is to bolster security and deter criminal activities. The Taliban have issued mandatory directives to all homeowners and shopkeepers in the capital, requiring them to install these cameras. Additionally, they declare their intention to extend this program to all cities in the country as part of their four-year policy framework aimed at reducing crime.
However, certain women’s movement groups, civil activists, and residents of Kabul argue that these cameras do not effectively curb crime and theft in the city; instead, they are primarily installed for “spying and infringing on citizens’ privacy.” They stress that most of these cameras are positioned above the entrances of residential compounds and tall buildings to monitor residents’ movements.
Kabul residents express concerns about the Taliban’s warnings to homeowners and property holders through informational pamphlets, which threaten fines for non-compliance with camera installation. Nevertheless, Amnesty International characterizes the Taliban’s actions as authoritarian, violating fundamental rights and encroaching upon citizens’ privacy.
Abdul Matin Qaani, the spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior, recently declared the installation of 62,000 public security cameras and thousands of concealed cameras in Kabul. In a media video statement, he clarified that, as per the group’s new policy, this initiative will expand to all 34 provinces of the country. The Taliban’s Ministry of Interior spokesperson revealed that they have deployed these cameras along certain highways, public squares, and strategic locations, with the number of hidden surveillance cameras surpassing the reported count. He added, “Presently, in Kabul and other vital areas, there seem to be more than 62,000 security cameras, possibly even more covert ones. These cameras are strategically placed in critical and densely populated zones.” He continued to stress that the installation of security cameras in Kabul has led to a reduction in criminal activities.
However, simultaneously with the Taliban’s statements regarding security cameras, some security experts believe that the installation of these cameras does not effectively reduce crimes. According to them, the Taliban lack the necessary capacity and capability to utilize these cameras in real-time, and they only review the security cameras after a crime has occurred, which does not play a role in preventing crimes.
A former military official, who wishes to remain anonymous, has stated that the Taliban are intent on espionage and inspecting people’s beliefs. According to him, the Taliban are taking this action to exert greater control over the population and to prevent gatherings and citizen assemblies. This former military official further asserts that the Taliban are wary of small gatherings and house-to-house visits by their opponents. Therefore, in addition to deploying spies, they are also using technology for their political purposes and monitoring individuals who travel to their targeted areas.
In the meantime, certain Kabul residents firmly argue that the security cameras have failed to curb criminal activities and theft. They claim that these cameras were imposed upon homeowners, and non-compliance with the Taliban’s directives results in penalties and fines. An anonymous resident of Kabul residing in the same building expresses that the street-facing security camera has not deterred theft. He recounts, “In our residence, a camera points towards the street, but a burglar entered from behind the houses and pilfered the homeowner’s belongings. Subsequently, the Taliban suggested acquiring and installing another camera on the opposite side. However, upon their inspection, nothing was discovered. Paradoxically, theft has increased since the additional cameras were installed.”
This Kabul resident further explains, “These cameras are installed for spying purposes. They are directly above the gates of houses, monitoring daily visits to homes, what kind of clothing people wear, and overall monitoring of people’s behavior.”
This comes as female protesters view the Taliban’s actions as a continuation of widespread human rights violations by the group. According to them, in addition to violating the rights of citizens, the Taliban will also use this measure to hinder domestic protests and the private space of women.
Maria (pseudonym), one of the female protesters, argues that the Taliban have adopted this approach by emulating the policies of the Iranian government. She claims that Iran uses security cameras for pressuring and suppressing its opponents and for monitoring women’s hijab compliance. Maria further contends that this group has drawn inspiration from Iran and aims to have surveillance over women, even in their homes and neighborhoods. She advises protesters in Kabul to be cautious during their movements to avoid becoming targets of Taliban security cameras.
However, some human rights activists have described the Taliban’s actions as “oppressive.” They argue that the Taliban, in collusion and emulation of the Iranian regime, have resorted to this measure. According to them, dictatorships often collaborate strongly in strengthening their respective systems. In their view, the Taliban have learned issues related to espionage, surveillance, and suppression of their opponents from Iran.
On the other hand, civil activists also label the Taliban’s move as “spying and violative of privacy.” Ahmad, a civil activist, considers the installation of security cameras by the Taliban as a violation of citizens’ privacy and a form of espionage in people’s lives. He adds that the Taliban, through this action, will transform the current fragile livelihood for the people into a living hell. This civil activist emphasizes that if a security camera is installed over the gate of every house, and its control lies in the hands of the Taliban, it will strip away the human living space and environment from the people.
These concerns have escalated recently as Amnesty International has condemned the installation of 62,000 security cameras by the Taliban in Kabul as a violation of the fundamental rights of the people and a clear example of the authoritarian policies of this group.
The organization further stated, “The implementation of such an extensive surveillance scheme under the guise of ensuring security is a continuation of the Taliban’s oppressive policies against the fundamental rights of the people in Afghanistan, particularly women in public spaces, which this group has been violating for the past two years.” According to this organization, the installation of these cameras erodes privacy, freedom of expression, and the right of citizens to assemble.
However, it is reported that these surveillance cameras have been installed with technical assistance from Chinese companies. Previously, the Chinese company Huawei had agreed to assist the Taliban in installing advanced surveillance systems in all provinces of Afghanistan.
It should be noted that CCTV systems can grant China access to facial recognition databases, which they can potentially use for their domestic security efforts.
RANE News Agency reported that this agreement appears to align with China’s willingness to engage with the Taliban to mitigate potential instability and security threats, especially from groups like the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and the ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K).
While the Taliban is installing security surveillance cameras, it is worth mentioning that the Iranian government had previously announced the installation of CCTV cameras in streets and public places to counter the growing wave of protests and opposition to mandatory hijab, similar to what the Taliban is doing now.
