Iraq to ban Waze navigation app by 2027

Iraq’s Ministry of Communications has announced plans to ban the navigation application Waze. Communications Minister Mustafa Sanad stated that the ban is due to the app being Israeli-made, noting that the restriction is expected to take effect at the beginning of 2027.

Waze, which was acquired by Google in 2013, is a widely used satellite navigation service that relies on user-reported data regarding traffic, accidents, and police checkpoints. The decision has sparked domestic discussions regarding the security of user location data and the potential for Iraq to develop its own technological alternatives.