Govt urges Malaysians to uninstall Waze over Israeli data laws, stops short of blanket ban
The Malaysian government has advised citizens to uninstall the Waze navigation app due to concerns over data sovereignty and Israeli jurisdiction. While civil servants are banned from using it for official duties, the government has stopped short of a total public ban to respect individual choice.
Why it matters
This reflects the intersection of national security, data privacy, and geopolitical tensions in the digital age.
SEPANG, Oct 22 — The government has urged Malaysians to uninstall Waze over concerns that users’ personal and movement data could fall under Israeli jurisdiction.
National Security Council director-general for National Security Raja Datuk Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, however, said there will not be a blanket ban issued to preserve individual freedom of choice.
“The government is balancing national security considerations with human rights, freedom of expression and the freedom to choose.
“We always need to strike a balance between security and human rights consideration and freedom of expression, freedom to choose,” Nushirwan told a press conference at the National Cyber Security Agency (Nasca), National Security Council (NSC) headquarters.
Nushirwan said the concerns went beyond technology and instead concerned the legal framework governing the collection and use of personal data, pointing to Waze Mobile Ltd’s terms of use, which stipulate that the agreement is governed by Israeli law.
Headlinne story · 3 newsrooms
Malaysia Bans Waze for Civil Servants Over Data Privacy
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