Why the Taliban love social media

Why the Taliban love social media

Author: BBC World Service August 24, 2021 Duration: 46:16

While the stereotype of the Afghan Taliban is that they lack sophistication, that certainly isn’t true for their online presence, which is geared to influence across many languages within Afghanistan and around the world. Adam Rutland co-founder of the Centre for Information Resilience looks at the effectiveness of their campaign and how they have learnt from both ISIS and Hamas.

We also look at computer guided initiatives for understanding the working of the human brain. Alex Frangi and Ali Sarrami Foroushani from Leeds University have a model which can be used to do research which would be dangerous in real people.

And Fern Luham reports on the technology she and other blind people can use around the home from practical devices to those that help with her social life.

The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell with expert commentary from Ghislaine Boddington

Studio Manager: Nigel Dix Producer: Julian Siddle

(Image: Getty Images)


Every week, the team at Digital Planet from the BBC World Service takes you beyond the headlines to explore how technology is reshaping lives, cultures, and economies across the globe. This isn't just a rundown of gadget releases or corporate earnings; it's a grounded conversation about the real-world impact of our digital choices. You'll hear from engineers in Nairobi, policymakers in Brussels, and coders in São Paulo, offering a genuinely international perspective that challenges the usual Silicon Valley narrative. Each episode digs into the human stories behind the innovations, examining both the promise and the peril of our connected age. We tackle questions about ethics, accessibility, and the unintended consequences of progress, making sense of complex issues with clear, thoughtful reporting. Tune in for a nuanced and curious exploration of our technological moment, where the focus is always on the people designing, using, and living with these tools every day. This podcast provides the context you need to understand not just what's new, but what it actually means.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Digital Planet
Podcast Episodes
Tech Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:34
How is technology changing our lives? Search for Tech Life wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe or follow if you can.
Digital Planet says goodbye [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:16
On Digital Planet’s final ever show we discuss the legacy of Gordon Moore, the father of transistors and creator of Moore’s law.Special guests this week are Angelica Mari and Ghislaine Boddington.The programme is present…
3D printed food – what’s cooking? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:05
Could 3D-printing be serving us up a tasty food revolution, or is it the ultimate in gimmicky processed foods taking us yet further away from natural eating? In the kitchen, a 3D-printer builds up customised tasty treats…
Jimmy Wales on bots and blockages [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:38
Digital Planet caught up with Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales. In the first of two interviews with Gareth, Jimmy explains why Wikipedia was restricted in Pakistan recently and how they overcame the block. And he gives his…
Digital identity: Where are we now? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:33
It may seem that in some countries surveillance cameras are everywhere – recording almost our every move. We are using fingerprints and facial recognition to get access to our banking, work emails and even our healthcare…
Ukraine’s drone spotting app [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:03
As Ukraine enters the second year of the full-scale Russian invasion, we hear about an app through which citizens can help alert defence authorities of air attacks. To help prevent future attacks, the country’s Air Defen…
Data in disaster zones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:26
After the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Northern Syria, how do you collate data to aid those coordinating the disaster response? Cecilia Utas from DEEP (Data Entry and Exploration Platform) explains how important…
Internet shutdowns around the world [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:09
Within hours of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake across Turkey and northern Syria, the internet in Turkey was partially shutdown. And it wasn’t just because of damage to network infrastructure from the quake itself, but Twit…
What’s the future of bots on Twitter? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:41
What is happening with API’s, more commonly known as bots, on Twitter? The platform is set to eliminate free access to its APIs this Thursday, although there appears to have been some backtracking following announcements…
A smart glove to save babies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:36
One of the main causes of maternal mortality during childbirth is that the baby cannot be delivered vaginally, most likely because it is not positioned correctly in the womb. Without a plethora of medical equipment and t…