Civil servants who defy Waze ban face disciplinary action, says MKN
National Security Council director-general Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin says department heads will oversee compliance with the chief secretary’s directive.
KUALA LUMPUR: Waze has denied allegations that its navigation app presents a security risk, following the Malaysian government's directive prohibiting civil servants from utilizing it. The company asserts that accusations of Waze collecting sensitive government data or enabling unauthorized exploitation of personal user information are entirely unfounded.
According to a Waze spokesperson speaking to the New Straits Times, the app adheres to stringent privacy policies designed to safeguard user data and adhere to international data protection standards. Yesterday, the Malaysian government instructed all civil servants to cease using the app immediately. Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar announced the ban during a National Cyber Security Committee meeting led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, highlighting concerns over the app's Israeli origins.
Earlier today, National Cyber Security Agency (Nacsa) chief executive Dr Megat Zuhairy Megat Tajuddin emphasized the potential security risks posed by Waze, particularly as artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve. He stated that the app's collection of location data could expose the places users have visited and their movement patterns, potentially enabling tracking of government officials if the information were to fall into the wrong hands.
Civil servants who do not comply with the government's directive may face disciplinary action, according to the National Security Council (MKN) director-general, Datuk Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin. Additionally, a report by cybersecurity technology firm ClearPhish revealed that a database containing over 7.6 million Waze user records had been listed for sale on a dark web marketplace, according to Berita Harian.
The report asserted that the database included usernames, unique user identifiers, GPS location data, and travel history, which, if verified, could be misused for stalking, monitoring travel habits, and orchestrating targeted attacks.
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- Civil servants who defy Waze ban face disciplinary action, says MKN freemalaysiatoday.com
- Waze denies being a security risk following M'sian civil service ban nst.com.my
