CYBERJAYA, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Location and movement data collected by the Waze navigation application, which is subject to Israeli laws and jurisdiction, could potentially be analysed and exploited using artificial intelligence (AI) by malicious parties.
National Security Council (MKN) director-general Datuk Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin said the government’s decision to prohibit civil servants from using the application for official duties was based on two key considerations concerning data security and national information sovereignty.
“Firstly, Waze collects various detailed information about users, including location data, travel movements and device information. Depending on device settings, this information may be collected even when the application is not actively being used.
“When analysed collectively, such data can reveal users’ movement and activity patterns. For civil servants, this could be a highly sensitive issue,” he said at a briefing on current national security issues here today.
Also present was MKN National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) chief executive Dr Megat Zuhairy Megat Tajuddin.
Raja Nushirwan said the second consideration concerned the laws governing the data, following the introduction of new terms of use by Waze’s owner, Waze Mobile Limited, which is incorporated in Israel.
“The new terms of use state that the use of Waze is subject to Israeli law, which was not the case previously. As a result, any legal disputes would be subject to Israeli law, even though Malaysia does not recognise that country.
“I want to stress that this decision is not solely about technology, but also concerns the laws governing users’ data,” he said.
He said the government would not compromise on the security of Malaysians’ data and the sovereignty of national information, reiterating its position that Malaysians’ data must not be subject to Israeli jurisdiction.
Raja Nushirwan also cautioned the public against indiscriminately sharing data through applications, warning that it could be exploited.
“Data is essentially the oil that powers any application or AI platform, including Waze.
“If we provide our data indiscriminately, it is like relying on fuel for our cars from a source we cannot trust. That is the simplest way to illustrate why it is important for us to own and control our people’s data,” he said.
Yesterday, the government decided to prohibit all civil servants from using the Waze navigation application to protect government information and users’ personal data from the risk of misuse by the Israeli regime.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the decision took into account Waze Mobile Ltd’s status as a data controller for users, with the company incorporated and operating under Israeli law.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar also said that the ban on Waze applied to civil servants only when performing official duties.
-- BERNAMA