Security review prompts restriction
Malaysian government personnel have been instructed not to use Waze, according to Middle East Monitor. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s office framed the restriction as a safeguard for state information and individuals’ personal details, alleging that the data could be misused by the Israeli regime.
The announcement came following a National Cyber Security Committee meeting chaired by Anwar. His office said on Wednesday that authorities were examining possible security risks connected to the app. Middle East Monitor also reported that concerns about Waze’s links to Israel formed part of the government’s decision.
Anwar proposed TuJu as an alternative in a Facebook post. The Malaysian mapping service was developed by the country’s highway authority, Middle East Monitor reported.
Waze disputes data allegations
Waze rejected the assertions about its handling of information. According to Channel NewsAsia, the company said it does not gather sensitive material belonging to governments and does not provide a means for third parties to misuse information about its users.