Anwar Ibrahim advises Malaysians to avoid Waze over data privacy concerns

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has advised citizens to stop using the Waze navigation app to protect personal data security. Following a meeting of the National Cyber Security Committee (JKSN), Anwar suggested using 'Tuju', an application developed by the Malaysian Road Authority, as an alternative.

The Prime Minister expressed concerns regarding Waze's data security and identity protection, noting that the application is subject to Israeli law. This follows discussions on the potential risks of using the app to monitor citizen data. The government aims to strengthen digital sovereignty and the security of MyDigital ID, the national digital identity verification platform, alongside integrated systems using MyKad.

Experts from the Malaysian Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA) have also warned that Waze functions as a massive real-time data collection ecosystem. They noted that frequent use can reveal detailed profiles of users' daily routines, including home and work locations, which could indirectly disclose sensitive information regarding health, religion, or political affiliations. Such data patterns could potentially be exploited for stalking or social engineering.