Malaysia Bans Civil Servants From Using Waze Over Israel Ties — SkimNews
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- Anwar Ibrahim banned civil servants from using Waze, warning the app could compromise national security and sovereignty due to its Israeli origins and data risks.
- Anwar Ibrahim urged all Malaysians to stop using Waze and switch to Tuju, a Malaysian-developed navigation app, emphasizing the need to protect user data from exploitation by the Israeli regime.
- Waze rejected claims it collects sensitive government data or enables third-party exploitation, stating it operates under strict privacy policies compliant with global data protection standards.
- Anwar Ibrahim linked the ban to broader digital sovereignty efforts, following a National Cyber Security Committee meeting that reviewed cyber threats and Malaysia’s Cyber Security Act 2024 implementation.
- Anwar Ibrahim framed the directive as part of Malaysia’s firm stance against Israel, reinforcing his government’s support for Palestine and rejection of diplomatic pressure to change its position on Hamas.
Why it matters: Malaysia’s ban on Waze for civil servants shifts digital policy into geopolitical action, directly tying data security to foreign relations. By promoting Tuju, the state risks disadvantaging widely used global apps while elevating domestic alternatives — a move that could reshape public-sector tech use and deepen digital fragmentation along political lines.
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