The National Security Council (MKN) says Malaysia will not compromise on national security risks linked to Waze, urging a switch to local apps like TuJu.
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will not compromise on any threat to national security and sovereignty involving Israel, including risks associated with the use of the Waze navigation application, which is linked to the Israeli regime.
The National Security Council (MKN), under the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM), said in a statement today that safeguarding Malaysians’ personal data and national information remained a priority, particularly when assessing the implications of using applications subject to Israeli laws and jurisdiction.
“The government views seriously the collection of users’ location, movement, travel and device data by the Waze navigation application, particularly as its terms of use stipulate that Israeli law applies and that courts under the regime have jurisdiction over disputes relating to the use of its services,” the statement read.
MKN said users’ location data and movement patterns were sensitive information requiring appropriate protection, especially when official duties and the country’s strategic interests were involved.
It stressed that technological convenience must not take precedence over national security considerations.
“In this regard, civil servants and Malaysians are advised to switch to local navigation applications such as TuJu, developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM), or other suitable locally developed alternatives.
“For further information, the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), MKN and JPM have prepared a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document, which can be accessed at https://www.nacsa.gov.my/faq-waze.php,” the statement said.
Earlier, the government announced a ban on the use of Waze by all civil servants to protect government information and users’ personal data from the risk of misuse by the Israeli regime.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the decision took into account the status of Waze Mobile Ltd as the data controller for users, with the company incorporated and operating under Israeli law.