PETALING JAYA: The ban on civil servants using the Waze navigation app is aimed at preventing Israel from misusing government information and users’ personal data, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today.
“The decision took into account Waze Mobile Ltd’s status as a data controller incorporated and operating under Israeli law.
“Sensitive government information and the personal data of the public must be protected from being exploited by the Israeli regime in ways that could threaten national security and sovereignty,” he said in a statement.
Anwar also urged Malaysians to stop using Waze and switch to local alternatives such as TuJu, citing the security assurances and personal data protection offered by the app.
Earlier today, it was reported that the government had banned civil servants from using Waze, which was developed in Israel.
In a letter dated Oct 20, chief secretary Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said the decision was made at a National Cybersecurity Committee meeting chaired by Anwar earlier that day.
Malaysia joins Iraq, which has announced a complete ban on Waze effective 2027. Iran had also previously blocked or restricted access to the app because of its links to Israel.
Waze was founded in Israel in 2008 by three Israeli entrepreneurs before being acquired by Google in June 2013 for about US$1.15 billion.
In 2017, Malaysia was reported to have one of the highest numbers of Waze users in Asia, with about six million monthly active users, including about 2.5 million in Kuala Lumpur. Users generated nearly 1.2 million traffic alerts a month.