Data Transfer to Israel, Legal Jurisdiction Concerns Behind Waze Ban
PUTRAJAYA: Concerns over the security of user data processed in Israel, as well as limitations involving legal jurisdiction, were the main reasons behind the government’s decision to prohibit civil servants from using the Waze navigation application.
Madani Government spokesperson Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the decision was based on feedback from the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), which was presented to the National Security Council (NSC) before being referred to the National Cyber Security Committee (JKSN).
Fahmi, who is also Communications Minister, said JKSN is responsible for reviewing cybersecurity-related matters, including concerns raised over the use of the application.
“The information presented also involved data collection and the processing of data associated with the application, which is transferred to Israel. This is a major issue that has been raised.
“Secondly, any legal disputes can only be handled through courts in Israel. This means that if any issues arise, we cannot pursue them there because Malaysia does not recognise Israel and has no diplomatic relations with the country. These are the two main concerns,” he told a press conference here today.
Commenting on allegations of a user data breach, Fahmi said Waze must explain how Malaysians’ personal information could have been obtained by irresponsible parties before being sold on the dark web.
“Yes, this is one of the reasons why we need to be cautious about the information we provide to any party. Waze needs to explain this.
“We are unsure how Malaysians’ personal data could have been obtained in such a manner, subsequently resulting in a data breach, with irresponsible parties profiting from selling the information on the dark web,” he said.
However, Fahmi said the government could not confirm whether Malaysians’ personal data was involved in the alleged breach.
He said the Personal Data Protection Department under the Digital Ministry would also be consulted regarding any potential investigations that may be necessary, subject to legal procedures.
Asked whether the government would block access to Waze through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) or the Communications Ministry, Fahmi said further action would depend on obtaining extracts from the minutes of the JKSN meeting and the relevant directives.
“Since the National Cyber Security Committee has made its decision, we need to obtain extracts from the meeting minutes before taking further action. So, we will wait for that process,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fahmi encouraged the public to explore various alternative navigation applications, whether developed locally or overseas, rather than relying on a single application.
UTUSAN