Waze rejects Malaysia's data security claims after civil servant ban
Waze has denied allegations from the Malaysian government that the app poses a data security risk due to its Israeli origins. Malaysia has banned civil servants from using the app, citing national security concerns.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights the intersection of geopolitical tensions and digital privacy, as nations increasingly scrutinize the ownership and data practices of foreign-based technology platforms.
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Navigation app Waze has rejected Malaysia's claims that it could exploit users' personal data, after the country banned civil servants from using the app over its Israeli links.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the ban on Wednesday (Oct 21) to "safeguard government information and users' personal data against the threat of misuse by the Israeli regime".
He said on Friday (Oct 23) that the South-East Asian nation could consider a total ban if an alternative for the popular app is found.
Muslim-majority Malaysia is a longstanding and vocal critic of Israel and maintains no diplomatic relations with it.
Waze, owned by Google, was founded in Israel and remains incorporated there.
"Claims that Waze collects sensitive government information or allows any entity to exploit personal user data are completely false," a Waze spokesman told AFP in a statement.
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Malaysia Bans Waze for Civil Servants Over Data Privacy
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