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Facebook brings in new safety measures for users in Afghanistan

The BBC reported that Facebook has brought in new safety measures for users worried for their safety in Afghanistan, as the Taliban continue to cement their grip on power.
The firm says it "removed the ability to view and search the 'Friends' list for Facebook accounts in Afghanistan" to protect people from being targeted.
Professional networking site LinkedIn has also taken steps by hiding the connections of anyone in the country.
According to the BBC, there are concerns the Taliban are using social media to track opponents.
It said, the additional safety measures were announced on Thursday by Facebook's head of security policy, Nathaniel Gleicher.

Mr Gleicher tweeted, "we've launched a one-click tool for people in Afghanistan to quickly lock down their account. When their profile is locked, people who aren't their friends can't download or share their profile photo or see posts on their timeline."
He said that on Facebook-owned Instagram "we're rolling out pop-up alerts in Afghanistan with specific steps on how to protect your account".
Mr Gleicher added that Facebook was "working closely with our counterparts in industry, civil society and government to provide whatever support we can to help protect people".
Read more: Facebook continues to ban Taliban from operating Afghan government accounts
It should be noted that earlier, the tech giant confirmed it would continue to ban Taliban content from its platforms as it considers the group to be a terrorist organisation.
Meanwhile, Twitter said in a statement this week that its "top priority is keeping people safe, and we remain vigilant".
"The situation in Afghanistan is rapidly evolving. We're also witnessing people in the country using Twitter to seek help and assistance."
Twitter has come under scrutiny for its handling of Taliban-related content.
Taliban spokesmen used the platform to update their hundreds of thousands of followers, as the militant group retook control of Afghanistan.
In response to BBC questions earlier this week about the Taliban's use of Twitter, a company spokesperson highlighted policies against violent organisations and hateful conduct.
According to its rules, Twitter does not allow groups that promote terrorism or violence against civilians.
In a statement emailed to the BBC, a LinkedIn company spokesperson said: "Our team is closely monitoring conversations about developments in Afghanistan and taking action on any content that doesn't follow our professional community policies.
"We've also taken some temporary measures including limiting the visibility of connections for our members in the country."
Source: BBC
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Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
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Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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