Facebook Will Let Users In Afghanistan Lock Their Accounts, Hide Friend Lists As A Security Measure

In Afghanistan, Facebook has unveiled new tools to help people protect their online identities. Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook’s head of security policy, highlighted the company’s steps to protect citizens in a series of tweets. Facebook is spreading out the ability to lock down accounts and hide friends lists, according to Gleicher. These features are currently only available in Afghanistan, and they were developed in response to feedback from activities, civil society organizations, and journalists. “Our teams have been working around the clock for the past week to do everything we can to keep people safe. While we must be cautious to prevent informing malicious actors, we have implemented a few security steps for people in the nation to protect their accounts.

Again, feedback from activists, journalists, and civil society organizations influenced many of these decisions. Gleicher also declared that he would go to add some links to amazing online security recommendations for all the journalists and activists from civil society specialists.”

Since the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan this week, tales of its soldiers carrying out retribution attacks and violently suppressing protesters have cast doubt on their pledges of amnesty and reconciliation. Many Afghans have locked down their social media accounts and removed messages in the days since the militants took over towns, including Kabul, the capital, out of fear that their digital fingerprints could make them targets of the former terrorists. The Taliban has already carried out severe retaliation against Afghans who had ties to the country’s former government or Western countries such as the United States.

“In Afghanistan, one of the latest technology is also invented recently that a one-click tool allows customers to shut down their accounts instantly. People who aren’t their friends can’t download or share their profile photo or see posts on their timeline when their profile is locked,” Gleicher said in a tweet.

Gleicher also revealed that, in Afghanistan, Facebook is temporarily disabled to browse and search the “Friends” list to safeguard users from being targeted. In Afghanistan, Facebook is also sending many pop-up alerts with particular instructions on protecting the users’ Instagram accounts. Gleicher warned people with friends and family in Afghanistan to limit their visibility settings, saying that they could put their Afghan counterparts in danger. He stated that Facebook is actively monitoring the situation in Afghanistan and will take immediate steps to assist in protecting people.

Users may now lock their accounts with a single click, preventing non-Facebook friends from sharing their images or viewing their timeline postings. The option to access and search the ‘Friends’ list for Facebook accounts in the nation has also been deleted.

As already discussed above, the face has also introduced a one-click solution to shut down their account at once rapidly for people in Afghanistan. People who aren’t their friends can’t download or share their profile photo or read posts on their timeline if their profile is locked, “Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook’s head of security policy, tweeted on Thursday.

What are the other social media platforms up to?

LinkedIn has also temporarily obscured the relationships of its members in Afghanistan so that other users cannot view them, according to a company representative. Meanwhile, Twitter has stated that it is contacting civil society partners in Afghanistan to provide support groups. It also stated that it is striving to expedite requests for the deletion of historical tweets. Human rights organizations have expressed worry that the Taliban could trace civilians’ digital records and social ties through social media platforms.

According to Gleicher, Instagram, controlled by Facebook, is introducing pop-up alerts in Afghanistan with instructions for protecting accounts. He also advised people with Afghan friends and relatives to fine-tune their own visibility settings. It has also built a dedicated operations center, according to Gleicher, “to respond to new threats as they arise.” He stated that the corporation is keeping a close eye on the situation and will take frequent action for the safety of people.”

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