Stop Blaming Us!’ – MTN Claps Back at Furious Customers Over Data Theft Allegations

 

Accusations of data theft continue to haunt telecom giant MTN, with customers across Ghana and Nigeria alleging that their data is being unfairly depleted without explanation. However, MTN Ghana’s CEO, Stephen Blewett, has strongly dismissed the claims, calling them a misconception fueled by lack of understanding of data consumption patterns.

 

Speaking at MTN House in Accra, Blewett insisted that the company has no financial motive to steal user data, declaring, I swear to God as my witness: we have no reason to steal your data.

 

Yet, his remarks come at a time when customer frustration is at an all-time high, with Nigerian subscribers flooding the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) with complaints, demanding an urgent investigation into alleged data manipulation.

Customers Cry Foul: “Our Data is Being Stolen!

Across social media, angry MTN users claim they are losing data at an alarming rate, even when their usage habits remain unchanged. Many believe the issue is not just a technical glitch but an orchestrated strategy to drive up profits.

 

The controversy mirrors ongoing complaints in Ghana, where Blewett admitted that accusations of data theft have followed him across every market he has worked in.

 

“I’ve heard ‘You’re stealing my data’ in every country I’ve worked—not just at MTN,” he said, defending the company’s billing integrity.

MTN Blames 5G and Streaming, But Consumers Aren’t Buying It

In an attempt to explain the rapid data depletion, MTN and other telecom operators argue that faster networks, including 5G, result in higher data consumption, especially due to automatic adjustments in streaming quality.

 

“A better network speeds up data use,” Blewett claimed. “YouTube switches to higher resolution on stronger signals—it’s like Pac-Man eating your data. We don’t control that.”

 

But for many subscribers, these explanations fail to address why they are losing data even when they are not actively streaming.

Independent Audits vs. Public Distrust

Blewett further emphasized that MTN undergoes independent audits to ensure billing accuracy, stating, “We don’t want revenue leaks or incorrect billing.”

 

However, skeptical customers are calling for third-party forensic audits to determine whether telecom operators are deliberately manipulating data consumption rates.

 

With public trust in MTN and other operators rapidly eroding, the question remains: Is this just a case of misunderstood data usage, or is there a deeper, more sinister telecom conspiracy at play?