Afghan social media war steps up with new campaign

By Miriam Arghandiwal
KABUL | Sun Jul 22, 2012 2:14pm BST

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's intensifying war by social media has stepped up a notch with free speech activists launching a campaign using Twitter and Facebook to fight wide confusion over competing NATO and Taliban claims, as well as looming government media curbs.

Foreign troops and insurgents have for years sparred on Twitter over the extent of victories against one another, while Afghan journalists are locked in a row with their government over press freedoms and new media laws.

"Social media is a free tool to use to transfer information without the influences of the government, warlords, or Talibs," said Abdul Mujeeb Khalvatgar, executive director of Afghan media advocacy group Nai, launching the new campaign on Sunday.

"But right now there's the problem of having an audience," said Khalvatgar, pointing to the limited uptake of new media in the war and poverty-wracked country. Just two million of Afghanistan's 30 million people have Internet access.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/07/22/uk-afghanistan-media-idUKBRE86L08A20120722