Waze rejected Malaysia’s claims that it collects sensitive government information or lets others exploit personal data, as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Friday the government could consider a total ban if it finds an alternative.
Anwar announced the current order Wednesday, saying it was intended to protect government information and users’ personal data from possible misuse. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo told Parliament Thursday that the directive applies to civil servants who use Waze for official duties. He cited data-security and legal concerns, including his view that user data would fall under Israeli jurisdiction.
Waze, which is owned by Google and was founded and remains incorporated in Israel, responded in a statement to AFP. The company denied collecting sensitive government information or allowing any party to exploit users’ personal data. A spokesperson called those claims “completely false” and said Waze’s privacy policies comply with international data-protection standards. AFP reported that Malaysia has no diplomatic ties with Israel and has long criticized the country.
AFP reported that Malaysia’s National Security Council warned civil servants who defy the immediate order could face disciplinary action. It also reported that officials had not explained how compliance would be checked. Some drivers working with Grab use Waze as a secondary navigation aid, AFP reported.
Anwar suggested TuJu, a locally developed navigation app, for users considering a switch. Former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng told AFP that Malaysians had criticized TuJu’s performance and objected to a compulsory change. The National Cyber Security Agency’s FAQ says the directive covers work-related use and leaves personal use outside its stated scope. It advises employees to uninstall Waze but does not require them to remove it. The current work-only directive is narrower than the total ban Anwar raised.
Anwar said Friday that a complete ban could be considered if the government finds an alternative. He tied that possibility to whether Malaysia can provide a capable replacement in the future.
