Skip to main content

Taliban’s app goes down after a day on Google Play Store

taliban-twitter-full
The Taliban already have a presence on Twitter and Facebook, and has its own websites to push its propaganda — but now they have thrown in an app too.

You may have seen an app called “Pashto Afghan News – alemarah” on the Google Play Store on Friday, and it was no April Fools’ joke. The news app launched on April 1, according to SITE Intel Group, but was already taken down by the next day.

The app was removed to fix some “technical issues,” according to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed, who spoke to Bloomberg. He added that the app will be back soon.

But though a Google spokesperson told Digital Trends the company doesn’t comment on specific apps, they alluded to removing Alemarah from the Play Store.

“Our policies are designed to provide a great experience for users and developers,” the spokesperson said. “That’s why we remove apps from Google Play that violate those policies.”

The app featured content in the Pashto language, and included statements and videos from the Taliban. Alemarah is the name of the propaganda network used by the Taliban, and the app is hardly its first foray with digital media, or even with rejection.

The Afghan Interior Ministry has repeatedly shut down Twitter accounts related to the Taliban, and hacker group Anonymous have dedicated its time to stopping insurgent and terrorist groups from gaining a larger presence online. But social media networks have repeatedly come under fire for not doing more to quell the growing presence of groups like the Taliban and ISIS on their respective platforms.

Google removed the app due to Alemarah violating its hate speech rules, which do not allow apps to “advocate against groups of people based on their race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, nationality, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.”

Editors' Recommendations

Julian Chokkattu
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…
Google overhauls its Family Link app for easier parental controls
Google Family Link app.

Google's Family Link app has been a great resource for parents looking to keep an eye on what their children are up to with their devices. Now, it's getting even better thanks to an app overhaul that puts the focus on safety and communication. While the Google Family Link app has previously been praised for its solid parental control settings, the redesign adds plenty of new features that make it easier than ever for parents to monitor smart device usage while keeping children informed about the parental control settings in place.

In addition to a design update that sorts the app into three main tabs (Highlights, Controls, and Location), there's also a laundry list of new features coming to Family Link. Since safety is a huge part of what makes the app appealing, features such as notification alerts when a device arrives at a specific destination (like school or a friend's house) and the ability to see an individual device's battery life are new additions that give parents peace of mind when their kids leave the house.

Read more
Does the Google Pixel Watch have fall detection? Not yet, but it’s coming soon
Lifestyle image of a woman wearing a Google Pixel Watch.

Looking for a great Android smartwatch? The Google Pixel Watch is Google's response to the Apple Watch and the Samsung Galaxy Watch. With this new kid on the block, Google has inaugurated its own multi-device hardware-software ecosystem with many of the same critical health and safety features.

The Pixel Watch offers Google's software suite, which users can access via LTE or smartphone connection, and incorporates health resources from Fitbit's fitness line. The new watch, which runs Wear OS 3.5, is designed for optimal integration with the Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro smartphones, which debuted alongside it.

Read more
Is the Google Pixel 7 waterproof?
Someone holding a white Google Pixel 7.

Google recently announced the next Pixel models, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, at the Made by Google event. Sporting the Google Tensor G2 processor, the Titan M2 security chip, and Pixel’s Adaptive Battery, the next-in-line Pixel devices have a lot to offer. But before you get all excited to explore the upgraded features, it's important to consider whether the new smartphones will hold up to extensive use. Are they strong enough to withstand everyday bumps and the occasional accidental drop? Can you flaunt your new phone at the pool? Let's find out. 
Is the Google Pixel 7 waterproof?

Looking to show off your new purchase to your friends partying by the water? Well, you're in luck. Both the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro can handle water and dust thanks to their IP68 protection (the highest rating for most high-end smartphones available today). This means the new Pixel phones can survive a drop in clean water, up to a depth of 6 meters, for up to 30 minutes. 
The new models will also resist everyday dust, so you don't have to worry about spending too many hours cleaning your phone. Although, it's always a good idea to give your phone a good cleaning, especially if you've just spent a lot of time outdoors. 
Is the Google Pixel 7 durable?

Read more