Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Malaysia urges citizens to uninstall Waze over data privacy concerns
The Malaysian government has called on citizens to remove the navigation app Waze from their devices, citing concerns over data collection practices linked to Israeli data protection laws. The appeal stops short of an outright ban on the popular mapping service.
LSN Malaysia ·
SEPANG — Malaysian authorities have advised the public to uninstall Waze, the widely-used navigation application, over worries that user information may be subject to Israeli data legislation. The government's recommendation reflects growing concerns about personal data collection by the app, which is owned by Google.
The cautionary advisory was issued by relevant government agencies, which expressed concerns that users' location data and other personal information could potentially be accessed under Israeli law. However, officials have indicated they are not pursuing a complete prohibition of the app at this stage.
Waze has become increasingly popular among Malaysian motorists for real-time traffic updates and route optimization. The app collects significant amounts of location data and user information to provide its services, raising privacy considerations for users across the region.
The government's move reflects broader regional sensitivities regarding data sovereignty and the handling of citizens' personal information by foreign technology platforms. Users who wish to comply with the advisory can explore alternative navigation applications available on local and international app marketplaces.