Misconceptions About Telecom Companies Involvement During Elections
1.Q: Do telecom companies support political parties?
A: No, telecom companies do not support political parties.
2.Q: How involved are telecom companies in monitoring and collating election results?
A: Telecom companies are not involved in monitoring and collating election results.
3.Q: Do telecom companies sell our data?
A: Telecom companies are law-abiding and do not sell customer data as the Data Protection Act, 2012, Sections 88 and 89, prohibits the purchase and sale of personal data.
4.Q: Why am I receiving messages from political parties?
A: The political parties could be using their own generated database.
5.Q: Do telecom companies listen to customers’ phone conversations?
A: No. Telecom companies do not and are incapable of listening to customers’ conversations. Such a practice is unethical and would infringe on customer privacy.
6 Q: Can telecom companies interfere with or manipulate election results?
A: No. Telecom companies cannot access the voting systems or election data to manipulate election outcomes. Telecom companies act as independent bodies and are not party-affiliated. You can be assured of our neutrality.
7. Q: Are telecom companies involved in the election processes?
A: No, telecom companies are limited to ensuring stable connectivity throughout the election process.
8. Q: Can telecom companies intercept voting information?
A: No. Voting data is typically encrypted and transmitted securely by the Electoral Commission, and telecom companies cannot access those systems or databases. Telecom companies strictly adhere to data privacy principles in their operations.
9. Q: Can telecom companies block or throttle election-related content?
A: As ethical and responsible corporate entities, telecom companies remain politically neutral throughout the election process. We do not post or support political content and will take down any election-related content that would compromise our position or reputation. This does not affect the constitutional rights of Directors or staff to post any election-related content.
10. Q: Can telecom companies collude with governments or parties to manipulate elections?
A: No. This is highly unlikely due to our commitment to high ethical standards, regulatory oversight, legal frameworks, and adverse reputational risks.
11. Q: Have telecom companies been implicated in election interference in Ghana?
A: No telecom company in Ghana has ever been implicated in election interference.
12. Q: How are telecom companies demonstrating election integrity?
A: Through collaboration with all stakeholders within the electoral ecosystem. Telecom companies are committed to a culture of openness in the conduct of their business. In line with their Code of Ethics, telecom companies, directors, and employees are prohibited from engaging in any activity compromising the various companies’ political neutrality or public perception.
The telecom companies’ position does not diminish their respect for the constitutional rights of directors or employees to personal participation in the election process and rights to absolute privacy.