Malaysia Bans Government Employees From Using Waze App
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Malaysia's government has banned all state employees from using the Waze navigation app due to concerns over its Israeli origins and potential privacy risks. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated the government is evaluating risks associated with apps subject to Israeli law. Employees are advised to use the local TuJu app instead. This move aligns with Malaysia's policy of supporting the Palestinian cause.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Malaysia banned state employees from using Waze due to its Israeli origins and privacy concerns.
- Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim cited risks associated with apps subject to Israeli laws.
- The government recommended employees use the local navigation app TuJu as an alternative.
- Waze was originally developed in Israel and acquired by Google in 2013.
- The ban reflects Malaysia's strong support for the Palestinian cause.
The Malaysian government has ordered all state employees to immediately cease using the navigation app Waze. This decision stems from government concerns over potential data leaks and user privacy violations, which they attribute to the app's Israeli origins, despite its current ownership by Google. The directive was issued following a meeting of the National Cyber Committee.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim explained on Facebook that the government is assessing risks associated with using an application subject to Israeli laws, emphasizing that "we cannot compromise on data security and the identity of citizens." Following his statement, the Chief Secretary to the Government, Shamsul Azree Abu Bakar, distributed an official directive to all heads of government agencies, prohibiting immediate use of the app.
As an alternative, the government recommended its employees switch to TuJu, a local mapping and navigation system developed by Malaysia's highway authority. Waze was originally developed in Israel and acquired by Google in 2013. Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country that does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, has implemented this ban as part of its strong support for the Palestinian cause.
