Overview
- The government issued a directive dated Oct. 20, 2026, that bars civil servants from using Waze and publicly urged a switch the following day.
- Officials say the action responds to Waze Mobile Limited’s incorporation in Israel and recent terms of service they say place the app under Israeli law.
- Waze rejected the security claims and said the company follows strict privacy policies and global data-protection standards.
- The prime minister recommended the domestic TuJu app as an alternative, and TuJu suffered service disruptions after a surge in users following the government’s push.
- The move reflects a wider digital-sovereignty drive tied to Malaysia’s non-recognition of Israel and recent research highlighting Israeli-linked surveillance risks, and it raises practical questions about reliable, vetted mapping tools for government use.