The Taliban is banning PUBG and TikTok in Afghanistan for being violent and immoral

[midian182]

WTF?! In what sounds like a slightly hypocritical decision, the militant Taliban group will ban PUBG: Battlegrounds in Afghanistan within the next three months. The reason? The game is accused of "promoting violence" and "misleading youth."

The ban is one of several implemented by The Taliban since it returned to power in Afghanistan in August last year following the collapse of the US-backed government and the withdrawal of American troops. Music, movies, TV soap operas and channels, and over 23 million websites have all been banned for their "immoral content."

The decision to ban PUBG and TikTok because they were leading Afghanistan's youth "astray" was announced in April. PCGamer notes that a recent meeting between Afghanistan's Ministry of Telecommunications, a Sharia law enforcement official, and security representatives resulted in the decision to implement a PUBG ban within the next 90 days, while TikTok will be banned within a month.

The country's telecommunications and internet service providers have been told to ensure that access to the apps—the PUBG ban is mainly aimed at its mobile version—is restricted within the respective periods.

TikTok and PUBG have become increasingly popular recently due to the Taliban banning other forms of entertainment, ironically. The BBC notes that nearly two-thirds of Afghanistan's population of 39 million are aged 25 and below. Around 100,000 concurrent players were logging into PUBG at the start of the year, leading to a moral panic in the country.

Afghanistan isn't the only country to ban these apps. PUBG and TikTok were two of hundreds of apps India banned in 2020 over their links to China. The government said the apps were "engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, the security of state and public order." Pakistan has also banned PUBG for being too addictive and a bad influence on children, while fans in China get to play a sanitized version of the battle royale giant called Game for Peace.

As with bans in other countries, expect to see VPNs suddenly increase in popularity in Afghanistan once the bans are put into effect.

Image credit: Ritesh Ranjan Sett

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https://www.techspot.com/news/96031-taliban-banning-pubg-tiktok-afghanistan-violent-immoral.html

 

[R00sT3R]

I would have thought the people there would have rather more to worry about from the Taliban than video games, TBH.

..like being publicly executed, for one.

 

[George Keech]

I would have thought the people there would have rather more to worry about from the Taliban than video games, TBH.

..like being publicly executed, for one.

I agree it almost demeans the whole situation there if the top new story about Afghanistan (lets face it there isnt much else) is about "takin away dem Vido gams"

 

[wiyosaya]

This, IMO, is definitely a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

 

[uuvvv]

Afganistan seems to keep themselves in a loop of misery by banning nearly all forms of entertainment.

 

[hahahanoobs]

Cool.

 

[Nobina]

That's a start. 50 years from now Taliban will be the most politically correct people.

 

[Vulcanproject]

All must report to the stadium to witness tonight's public show up close. We have the full gamut for you; punitive lashes, stoning, throat cutting and of course plenty of shootings. All topped off with a display of the bodies for several days afterwards.

Also, you can't play PUBG as it's too violent and might damage the precious child.

 

[Sathi43]

..like being publicly executed, for one.

In their intelligent efforts to discourage violence, they punish players of violent games by publicly stoning or beheading them.

 

[Uncle Al]

ROFLMAO!!! .... boy, talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

 

[loki1944]

Considering how sadistic the Taliban are; that's rich.

 

[fazy shah]

Well, Tiktok is of no use I just see vulgar videos on that so I never installed it, and has no use, not like youtube where you can learn from education and tutorials.

As for pubg it's their country and they have the Government and have the right to at least ban a game if they think it's not good.

 

[terzaerian]

I guess when your country is a Battle Royale in real life you don't want people wasting time on virtual ones

 

[OortCloud]

Too busy beating up their poor womenfolk to beat up people online.

 

[Slappy McPhee]

Pretty sad that this is happening there in Afghanistan yet here we are in the US still allowing TikTok with all of the bad actor data showing that it is a breeding ground for information gathering.

 

[AlaskaGuy]

TikTok is trash.