The Taliban’s police force has deployed 90,000 CCTV cameras to monitor the daily lives and every single action of six million people in Kabul, a move they claim is aimed at enhancing security and reducing crime, the BBC reported. However, critics argue that the surveillance network can act as a tool for mass control. According to the report, the cameras are also equipped with facial recognition capabilities and categorise individuals by their age, gender, and their beard.
Khalid Zadran, a spokesperson for the Taliban police chief, said to the BBC that they are monitoring the entire city from the control room. Zadran emphasised that if they detect anything suspicious or criminal in any area, they inform the local police for action.
The authorities argue that such surveillance will help fight crime, but critics fear it will be used to crack down on dissent and enforce the strict morality rules imposed by the Taliban based on their interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.
Inside the control room, police officers watch live footage from thousands of cameras and track every detail of the six million residents of Kabul. They monitor everything—from car licence plates to facial expressions.
“On clear days, we can zoom in on individuals who are kilometres away,” Zadran said.
The US-based international human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has warned that installing cameras in the name of “national security” allows the Taliban to continue harsh policies that violate basic rights, especially restricting women in public spaces.
Before the Taliban took power in 2021, crime rates were very high in the country, with threats from Islamic State militants, kidnappings, and car-jackings. After regaining control, the Taliban promised to reduce crime.
