Facebook, Twitter and Google have come under fire yet again as they must choose whether to censor the Taliban as it retakes Afghanistan
In the debate on censorship and civic duty, big tech is encountering a high-stakes question: whether it should censor the Taliban.
Facebook, Twitter and Google currently have bans in place to prevent the Taliban from creating accounts on their platforms.
But as the Taliban takes over Afghanistan, big tech must choose whether to block the country’s official state social media channels.
We went to Afghanistan almost 20 years ago with clear goals: get those who attacked us on September 11, 2001—and make sure al Qaeda could not use Afghanistan as a base from which to attack us again.
We did that—a decade ago.
Our mission was never supposed to be nation building.
Facebook says that it’s likely to take cues from the US government and other global leaders
It still remains unclear whether the US will recognise the Taliban as Afghanistan’s official government.
US President Biden is unlikely to take this route unless the Taliban publicly severs ties from terrorist groups like al-Qaeda.
The Taliban has already promised to protect the rights of minorities and women, but this remains to be seen.
How are Facebook, Google and Twitter handling the situation?
Facebook has said that it will continue to ban content from the Taliban so far as the US continues to classify the group as a dangerous terror organisation. The platform also removes any posts which explicitly praise the group.
Google, which owns Youtube, has banned the Taliban from operating accounts. User content which promotes the Taliban can be flagged for inciting violence or spreading hate speech.
Meanwhile, Twitter doesn’t yet have a specific policy to outline how it will respond to the Taliban other than those generally prohibiting posts that glorify violence.
If big tech gives the Taliban the green pass, concerns are that the group will use the platforms to spread propaganda.
The Taliban has already started trying to effectively re-brand itself, pledging to build an ‘inclusive government’ earlier this week.
It said this new government would protect the rights of women and minorities “within the bounds of sharia law”.
During the Taliban’s occupation of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, its interpretation of Sharia laws included stoning or executing women who refused to comply with the regime.
If you censor & advocate violence over objectionable speech you have no moral high ground.
This specific behavior is not limited to the Taliban.
Today in the west we have many cases of people being silenced, arrested or jailed over speech deemed objectionable by the state. https://t.co/aUx3rsVmf5
Would banning the Taliban from social media lead to more harm?
Another major concern is that more aggressive censorship against the Taliban could limit global discourse about affairs in Afghanistan.
Faiza Patel from the Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty & National Security program raised concerns about entirely censoring the group.
“How does that constrain political discourse on Facebook if you literally cannot talk about the Taliban except to criticise them?”
“I know most of us are probably going to be criticizing the Taliban, but there are obvious objective conversations that you can have about what it means” for Afghanistan.
It remains yet to be seen whether the group will honour its promise of protecting the rights of all Afghans, and what role big tech will have to play moving forward.
Natasha is an Associate Producer at ticker NEWS with a Bachelor of arts from Monash University. She has previously worked at Sky News Australia and Monash University as an Online Content Producer.
Australia’s AI workforce revolution: automation paves the way for a four-day work week.
In Short
UiPath’s report highlights the rapid shift towards “agentic automation,” where AI makes autonomous decisions, encouraging businesses to reassess roles and harness automation for productivity. This evolution may enable a four-day work week and necessitates the retraining of staff while ensuring regulations are in place for trust and compliance with AI integration.
The trend towards work reallocation is rapidly advancing, with UiPath’s new report identifying significant shifts in AI and automation.
Key insights from the report suggest a move towards “agentic automation,” where AI begins to make autonomous decisions. Yelena Galstian, Head of Solutions and Customer Advisory at UiPath shares her key insights.
Organisations are encouraged to reassess existing roles and identify areas where automation can enhance productivity.
A critical aspect will be the orchestration of collaboration between human employees, AI agents, and software robots to ensure effective teamwork.
Looking ahead, the motto for businesses is to “redesign and reassign” processes while considering how AI can handle repetitive tasks, allowing human employees to focus on more complex responsibilities.
As organisations embrace these changes, we could see a potential transition to a four-day work week, made feasible through increased efficiency and productivity from AI.
For further insights into the research and methodologies for implementing AI in business, interested parties can connect with the UiPath team through their website.
As global tourism revenue surges, cutting-edge technology and automation are revolutionising the hospitality industry.
Global travel demand remains strong heading into 2025, with industry experts predicting record-breaking tourism revenue.
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, global tourism revenue is set to hit $1.9 trillion this year.
With record-breaking growth projected for the travel industry, hospitality leaders are embracing AI, automation, and luxury innovations to enhance guest experiences.
As demand for international travel remains strong, hospitality businesses are adapting to evolving traveler expectations through technology and innovation.
One of the key trends shaping the industry is the rise of artificial intelligence and smart automation.
From AI-powered customer service to energy-efficient hotel management systems, technology is redefining guest experiences.
Luxury boutique hotels like London’s Eccleston Square Hotel are at the forefront of this transformation.
Known as one of the world’s most technologically advanced hotels, Eccleston Square has recently unveiled a major tech upgrade.
The hotel is now using Apple TVs from ROOMNET, an advanced automation system developed with Leading Edge Automation, and a cutting-edge building management system by HSYCO. These innovations enhance operational efficiency while maintaining a commitment to sustainability.
These enhancements work in sync with the hotel’s property management system, MEWS, to create a smarter, more sustainable hospitality experience.
As AI continues to reshape the hospitality landscape, Eccleston Square Hotel’s approach reflects the industry’s broader shift toward innovation, efficiency, and sustainability—paving the way for the future of luxury travel.
Olivia Byrne, Owner and Company Director Eccleston Square Hotel joins Veronica Dudo to discuss.
Reform UK surpasses Labour in polling for first time, with Brexit leader Nigel Farage gaining support amid Conservative decline.
In Short
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has overtaken Labour in a YouGov poll with 25% support, while Labour sits at 24% and the Conservatives at 21%. This shift indicates growing discontent with the government, particularly as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch struggles to regain support.
The poll, conducted among 2,223 adults at the beginning of February, shows Reform UK at 25 percent support, a rise of two points from the previous poll.
Labour has declined by three points to 24 percent, while the Conservative Party has dropped to 21 percent.
While these results are notable, the next general election is not required until August 2029, and Reform’s lead falls within the poll’s margin of error. POLITICO’s Poll of Polls shows Labour and Reform both at 25 percent, with Conservatives at 22 percent.
This polling data is troubling for the government, particularly after Labour’s dominance in the last election, where they achieved a majority with 33.7 percent of the vote. Reform UK was in third place with 14.3 percent.
The findings also reflect poorly on Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who seeks to restore support following recent losses.
YouGov indicates that 24 percent of those who voted Conservative in July would now choose Reform, with 43 percent of Conservative voters in 2024 favouring a merger between the two parties.