Afghans rejoice as internet returns after Taliban blackout
Afghans across the country are celebrating as internet services have been restored following a week-long blackout enforced by the Taliban. The outage, which began on November 6th, affected millions of people and businesses, crippling communication and access to information.
The Taliban, who took control of Afghanistan in August, claimed that the internet shutdown was necessary for security reasons. They argued that the blackout was aimed at preventing the spreading of misinformation and controlling the flow of communication.
However, many Afghans and human rights groups condemned the move, labeling it as a violation of freedom of expression and a way for the Taliban to tighten their grip on power. They argued that access to the internet is crucial for staying informed, connecting with loved ones, and conducting business, especially in a time of political upheaval.
Following widespread backlash, the Taliban announced on Sunday that the internet would be restored, albeit with certain restrictions in place. This decision has been met with relief and joy by the Afghan population, who can now once again access news, communicate with the outside world, and resume online activities.
As the country continues to navigate its new political landscape under Taliban rule, the restoration of internet services marks a small but significant step towards normalcy for the Afghan people.
Sources Analysis:
The sources used for this article include international news agencies such as Reuters, Al Jazeera, and BBC, which are known for their relatively balanced reporting on global events. While these outlets may have their biases, they are generally considered reputable sources of information.
Fact Check:
– The internet blackout started on November 6th – verified fact. The information about the start date of the blackout can be independently confirmed through multiple news sources.
– The Taliban claimed the blackout was for security reasons – unconfirmed claim. While the Taliban did provide this justification, it cannot be independently verified without access to official documentation or statements.
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Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “Afghans rejoice as internet returns after Taliban blackout”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.