Malaysia Bans Waze App Over Israel Ties

Malaysia has banned its government employees from using the navigation app Waze, citing concerns over data security and the app's Israeli origins. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the decision, which was made during a National Cyber Security Committee meeting. Ibrahim stated that the government is examining potential security risks stemming from the app's operation under Israeli law, emphasizing that the data and identities of citizens cannot be compromised. He did not elaborate on the specific risks or provide evidence of Waze misusing user data.

The ban was officially communicated to heads of government agencies in a letter from the Chief Secretary to the Government, which stated the directive was effective immediately. To provide an alternative, Malaysian officials are recommended to use TuJu, a local navigation app developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority. Waze, a community-driven, free navigation app, was founded in Israel in 2006 by Ehud Shabtai, Amir Shinar, and Uri Levin. It relies on crowdsourced, real-time traffic data, accident reports, and road hazards. Acquired by Google in 2013 for an estimated $1 billion, Waze has become a leading global navigation application. Malaysia has a long-standing hostile stance towards Israel, with no official diplomatic relations. Malaysian passports are explicitly valid for all countries except Israel, and Israeli citizens require special rare permission to enter the country. This animosity has been amplified by past leaders like former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, known for his strong anti-Israel and antisemitic statements. Despite the official animosity, indirect trade relations, particularly in high-tech and electronics, have existed between the two nations.