Airtel Malawi has been caught in a political quagmire when some of its subscribers received unsolicited political campaign messages ahead of today's election.
The messages urged people to vote for the Malawi Congress Party presidential candidate and were distributed outside of the campaign period.
Airtel Malawi has denied that the texts came from the company, although it has not stated whether or not the telco experienced a breach.
In a statement issued Monday, the telecom operator reaffirmed its commitment to political neutrality, consumer privacy, and data security.
The firm declared that it does not create, endorse, or distribute political content of any kind.
Airtel added that it is collaborating closely with the Regulatory Authority and other stakeholders to prevent the misuse of its communication platforms.
On the eve of the election, Airtel stated that certain clients had received unsolicited campaign communications, and the operator had contacted the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority for an investigation.
The clients had voiced discomfort and reported the problem to authorities.
"We have observed that some customers have recently received some unsolicited political campaign messages. We categorically state that these messages did not originate from Airtel," Airtel stated.
"We are engaging the Regulatory Authority and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that all data protection and communication regulations are fully observed. The company is strictly non-partisan and continues to uphold political neutrality."
It added: "We will continue to ensure that our services are used responsibly, lawfully and to the best interest of all Malawians."
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