KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Navigation app Waze has rejected Malaysia's claims that it could exploit users' personal data, after the country banned civil servants from using the app over its Israeli links.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the ban on Wednesday (Oct 21) to "safeguard government information and users' personal data against the threat of misuse by the Israeli regime".
He said on Friday (Oct 23) that the South-East Asian nation could consider a total ban if an alternative for the popular app is found.
Muslim-majority Malaysia is a longstanding and vocal critic of Israel and maintains no diplomatic relations with it.
Waze, owned by Google, was founded in Israel and remains incorporated there.
"Claims that Waze collects sensitive government information or allows any entity to exploit personal user data are completely false," a Waze spokesman told AFP in a statement.
"Waze operates under strict privacy policies that protect user data and comply with global legal data protection standards," the statement read.
Anwar told reporters that Malaysia needed to look into alternatives to Waze, adding that if "our capabilities are good enough in the future, we may consider banning it altogether.
"Our decision is not controversial," the Malaysian leader said, adding that Malaysia was "being monitored" because of its opposition to Israel.
"They will use all their influence to go against us," Anwar said, calling the issue "a matter of national security".
Malaysia's Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo told Parliament on Thursday that the ban applied only to civil servants carrying out official duties.
He cited data security and legal concerns for the move, as "user data falls under Israeli jurisdiction."
The government did not provide further details on the reason for the ban or how it would be enforced or monitored.
Malaysia's National Security Council warned on Thursday that civil servants who defy the immediate ban "could face disciplinary action".
Anwar suggested on Wednesday that users of Waze – which uses driver data to provide real-time traffic information – switch to platforms such as TuJu, a locally developed Malaysian road navigation app.
Waze is widely used in Malaysia, including as a back-up navigation aid by drivers for its Grab online cab-hailing service. – AFP
