Waze ban: MPs ask if WhatsApp, Instagram pose similar security risks

The government is asked to explain the ban on Waze for civil servants and its security risk differences from other popular apps like WhatsApp and Instagram.

Concerns were raised about the United States' history of surveillance and its support for Israel, questioning the data security risk differences between Waze and Google Maps.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated the Waze ban aims to protect data from misuse by Israel, considering Waze Mobile Ltd operates under Israeli law.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The government has been urged to provide a detailed explanation of the rationale behind the ban on the use of the Waze navigation app by civil servants, as well as the risk levels associated with other popular applications.

Chow Yu Hui (PH-Raub) said that the ban on Waze, over concerns that location data could be exposed to Israel, warranted clarification, particularly regarding how its security risks differed from those of other popular US-owned applications, such as WhatsApp and Instagram.

He said that the United States itself had a record of surveilling foreign leaders and had openly supported Israel, adding that the government should be transparent about the differences in risk levels considered in making the decision.

“The United States has also been implicated in revelations about the surveillance of foreign leaders, including former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Moreover, the US government supports Israel.

“If Waze is banned on the grounds that its company is based in Israel, when Waze has been owned by Google since 2013, what is the difference in data security risks between Waze and Google Maps, which is owned by the same parent company?” he asked, when debating the Supply (Budget) Bill 2027 at the policy stage in the Dewan Rakyat, today.

Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (PH-Bandar Kuching) shared similar concerns, raising questions about the security of other applications commonly used by the public.

“It is said that Waze’s database is located in Israel, but many of the applications we use are also controlled by Jewish companies or individuals.

“So, are they also exposed to the same security risks? I am not disputing the possibility of security issues, but I believe a detailed explanation should be provided, because many people are now wondering why this decision was made, and whether they themselves are exposed to these risks,” he said.

Earlier, the government decided to prohibit all civil servants from using the Waze navigation application, to protect government information and users’ personal data from the threat of misuse by the Israeli regime.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the decision took into account the status of Waze Mobile Ltd as a user data controller, incorporated and operating under Israeli law.

The Dewan Rakyat sitting resumes tomorrow. — Bernama

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政府被要求解释为何禁止公务员使用 Waze，以及 Waze 与其他热门应用（如 WhatsApp 和 Instagram）在安全风险方面的区别。

有人对美国的监控历史及其对以色列的支持表示担忧，并质疑 Waze 和 Google Maps 之间的数据安全风险差异。

以色列总理安瓦尔·易卜拉欣表示，鉴于Waze Mobile Ltd.是在以色列法律下运营的，禁止Waze的目的是为了保护数据免受以色列滥用。

吉隆坡，10月21日讯——政府被敦促详细解释禁止公务员使用Waze导航应用程序的理由，以及其他热门应用程序相关的风险等级。

周宇辉（PH-劳勿）表示，由于担心位置数据可能泄露给以色列，Waze 被禁一事需要澄清，特别是其安全风险与其他流行的美国应用程序（如 WhatsApp 和 Instagram）的安全风险有何不同。

他表示，美国自身就有监视外国领导人的记录，并且公开支持以色列，他还补充说，政府应该对在做出决定时考虑的风险等级差异保持透明。

“美国还卷入了有关监视外国领导人的丑闻，其中包括德国前总理安格拉·默克尔。此外，美国政府支持以色列。”

“如果Waze因其公司总部位于以色列而被禁，而Waze自2013年以来一直归谷歌所有，那么Waze和谷歌地图（它们都属于同一家母公司）在数据安全风险方面有什么区别呢？”他今天在下议院政策阶段辩论2027年供应（预算）法案时问道。

古晋希望党（PH-Bandar Kuching）的李凯文博士也表达了类似的担忧，并对公众常用的其他应用程序的安全性提出了质疑。

“据说 Waze 的数据库位于以色列，但我们使用的许多应用程序也由犹太公司或个人控制。

“那么，他们是否也面临同样的安全风险？我并不否认存在安全问题的可能性，但我认为应该提供详细的解释，因为现在很多人都想知道为什么会做出这样的决定，以及他们自己是否也面临这些风险，”他说。

此前，政府决定禁止所有公务员使用 Waze 导航应用程序，以保护政府信息和用户个人数据免受以色列政权滥用的威胁。

首相拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣表示，该决定考虑到了Waze Mobile Ltd作为用户数据控制者的地位，该公司是根据以色列法律注册成立和运营的。

下议院会议明天恢复。 — 马新社

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