NewzThe government barred civil servants from using Waze while on official duty over security concerns linked to the app’s exposure to Israeli laws. (File pic)PETALING JAYA: Waze has rejected claims that it collects sensitive government information or allows any party to exploit users' personal data after Malaysia barred civil servants from using the app on official duty.A company spokesman told FMT in an emailed statement that the claims were "completely false"."Waze operates under strict privacy policies that protect user data and comply with global legal data protection standards," the spokesman said.Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered the ban on Waze for civil servants while on official duty over security concerns linked to the app being subject to Israeli laws.There is no ban on the public using Waze, although Anwar urged Malaysians to switch to local alternatives such as TuJu, developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority and Prosignal Consortium Sdn Bhd.Anwar said the ban was intended "to protect government information and users' personal data from the threat of misuse by the Israeli regime".Google parent Alphabet acquired Waze in June 2013 for about US$1.15 billion. The app was founded in Israel in 2008 by three Israeli entrepreneurs.Earlier today, National Security Council director-general Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin warned that information collected by Waze, including users’ locations and travel movements, could be used to establish their daily routines.For civil servants, he said that this could be a highly sensitive issue.
MKN director-general Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin said rather than imposing an outright ban on the public use of Waze, the government wants Malaysians to understand the security risks and make informed choices. (File pic)PETALING JAYA: Civil servants who defy the ban on the use of the navigation app Waze could face disciplinary action, says National Security Council director-general Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin.He said department heads would oversee compliance with the directive, issued in a circular by Chief Secretary Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar."Any breach of a directive issued by the chief secretary carries disciplinary implications," he said at a briefing on national security issues today, Bernama reported.Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said yesterday that the ban on civil servants using Waze was to prevent Israel from misusing government information and users' personal data.He said the decision took into account Waze Mobile Ltd’s status as a data controller incorporated and operating under Israeli law, and that sensitive government information and Malaysians' data must be protected from exploitation by Israel "in ways that could threaten national security and sovereignty".Raja Nushirwan said location and movement data collected by Waze could be analysed and exploited by malicious parties using artificial intelligence."Waze collects various detailed user information, including location data, travel movements and device information. Depending on device settings, this information may be collected even when the app is not being actively used."When analysed collectively, such data could reveal users' movements and activity patterns.
For civil servants, this could be a highly sensitive issue," he said.Raja Nushirwan said rather than imposing an outright ban on the public use of Waze, the government wanted Malaysians to understand the security risks and make informed choices."We must always balance security concerns with human rights, freedom of expression and freedom of choice. We leave it to Malaysians to make their own decisions," he said.Raja Nushirwan said the government would periodically assess the effectiveness of this approach before deciding whether further measures were necessary.He said an immediate nationwide ban on Waze could send a negative signal to app developers and the broader information and communications technology sector.Raja Nushirwan also en…
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