Malaysia Bans Navigation App Over Security Concerns

The Malaysian government has issued a ban on the use of the navigation app "Waze," owned by Alphabet through Google, for government employees due to concerns over data security and privacy protection. This decision followed a meeting of the National Cybersecurity Committee on October 20, 2026, chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, with the ban being implemented immediately. The Prime Minister stated on his Facebook account that the government is seriously examining the potential security risks associated with the app's use, emphasizing that protecting citizens' data and identities is a top priority. He also pointed out that the app is subject to Israeli laws, raising the government's concerns about the security of information and user movement data.