Malaysia bans Waze for government workers over Israel ties

The Malaysian government has ordered all civil servants to stop using the Waze navigation app immediately, over concerns that personal information and location data could be exposed to Israeli entities. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the move following a meeting of the National Cyber Security Committee, and recommended switching to a locally developed navigation app instead.

According to Malaysian reports, the decision was made at a National Cyber Security Committee meeting held yesterday (20 October), chaired by the prime minister. The following day, an official directive was issued banning public-sector employees from using the application, and heads of government ministries and departments were required to ensure immediate implementation.

Ibrahim’s concern centers on Waze’s Israeli origins and on the legal framework that, according to the government, governs how the app handles the data it collects. He argued that traffic data and users’ personal information could be exposed to security risks. “We cannot compromise on the security of information and the identity of our citizens,” the prime minister wrote after the meeting.

Waze was developed in Israel in 2006 and was based on real-time driver reports alongside location data to provide information on traffic congestion, accidents and road closures, and to offer alternative routes. In 2013, Google acquired the company for approximately one billion dollars, and the app became one of the most recognised navigation tools in the world.

Malaysia is now seeking to promote a local alternative called Tuju, developed in cooperation with the country's highway authority. The app offers navigation and route guidance, arrival time information, real-time traffic data, toll road information, traffic cameras and roadside assistance. The government is encouraging its use with the aim of reducing concerns about exposing sensitive information to foreign platforms.

Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country, consistently supports the Palestinian cause and does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. The current decision fits with that position, but the government has also presented it as part of efforts to protect government information and strengthen the country's technological independence.