KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) — Heavy reliance on navigation applications built on foreign resources and expertise has implications for national security, including the safety of users among the public, a security analyst said.
National Security Geostrategic Analyst Khairil Hilmi Mokhtar said the risks involved not only security personnel but could also extend to individuals in critical fields such as engineering, economics and medicine, who are strategic assets to the country.
“Reliance on this technology should be accompanied by assurances on the security of users’ personal data and protection under Malaysian law.
“If the security of personal data and legal jurisdiction are linked to a third country, such as Israel, this would undoubtedly raise security implications that warrant serious attention,” he said in a statement today.
He said geopolitical tensions in West Asia, which have seen a series of attacks and targeted killings facilitated by intelligence capabilities to track targets’ locations accurately, demonstrated that the threat posed by such technology was real and worrying.
In this regard, he said Malaysia should continue to strengthen its domestic capabilities and reduce its dependence on foreign technology and expertise.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statement that Malaysia might not yet be fully prepared carried a broader message about the need to clarify the country’s direction in safeguarding digital sovereignty and security in the interests of the people and the nation.
Khairil Hilmi said efforts to develop domestic expertise in digital navigation deserved attention and support, despite the various challenges involved.
He said such efforts would not only strengthen the country’s technological self-reliance but also create opportunities to enhance local capabilities in developing secure, credible and high-integrity solutions that meet world-class standards.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim directed civil servants to stop using the Waze navigation application amid concerns that sensitive government information and personal data could be exploited by Israel.
— BERNAMA