On Friday, the mapping and navigation application “Wise” rejected Malaysian accusations that it allows the exploitation of its users’ personal data, after the authorities banned government employees from using it due to its links to Israel.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the ban on Wednesday, with the aim of “protecting government information and users’ personal data from the risk of misuse by the Israeli regime.”
On Friday, he announced that Malaysia may consider imposing a complete ban on the application if suitable alternatives to it become available. Malaysia, whose majority population is Muslim, has been strongly critical of Israel for a long time, and does not maintain any diplomatic relations with it.
The “Wise” application, owned by Google, was founded in Israel and is still registered there.
A WISE spokesman said, in a statement received by Agence France-Presse, that “allegations that WISE collects sensitive government information or allows any party to exploit users’ personal data are completely false.”
He added, "(WISE) operates in accordance with strict privacy policies that protect user data and respect international legal standards for data protection."
The Malaysian Prime Minister said that his country should look for alternatives to Waze, adding that "if our capabilities become sufficient in the future, we may consider banning it completely."
He considered that Malaysia was “under surveillance” because of its opposition to Israel. He added: “They will use all their influence against us,” describing the issue as “a matter of national security.”
Malaysian Minister of Digital Affairs Gobind Singh Deo explained before Parliament on Thursday that the ban is limited to government employees using the application within the framework of their official duties. The decision was justified by data security concerns and legal issues, given that user data is subject to Israeli jurisdiction.
The government did not provide further details regarding the reasons for the ban or how to implement it and monitor compliance with it.
Wise is widely used in Malaysia, including as a backup navigation option for drivers of the online taxi booking service Grab.
Former Finance Minister and MP Lim Guan Eng said that many Malaysians complained about the “Togo” application, which the government recommends as an alternative, considering that it is “ineffective and should not be imposed as a mandatory alternative to (Wise).”
North Korea has planted about 960,000 land mines along its border with South Korea since 2024, according to estimates by the South Korean army, Yonhap News Agency reported on Friday, citing several representatives in Parliament.
It is estimated that more than two million land mines have been planted along the demilitarized zone, including those planted by the South Korean military, according to military experts. The report stated that about half of the total number had been added in the past two years, according to the German News Agency.
The demilitarized zone is a buffer zone about 4 kilometers wide that separates the two Koreas, which have been divided since the end of the Korean War between 1950 and 1953.
North Korea has been working to intensively fortify its borders with the South since the beginning of 2024. Leader Kim Jong Un ordered the demolition of all roads and historical railway links between the two countries, coinciding with Pyongyang also planting land mines and erecting additional barriers and barbed wire.
Expanded border fortifications increased the risk of accidents. On September 21, three South Korean soldiers were injured, some seriously, in a North Korean landmine explosion. North Korea's leadership denied responsibility for the incident.
The border fortifications reflect Kim's abandonment of the goal of reunifying the two Koreas. Since its founding in 1948, North Korea has formally sought reunification with the South. Kim moved away from this goal for the first time in late 2023, declaring South Korea the “main enemy.” Since then, North Korea has deleted all references to reunification with the South from its constitution.
Show military talks
In addition, on Friday, South Korea offered to North Korea to hold military talks on “accurately” demarcating the line of contact in the middle of the demilitarized zone separating the two countries after a number of serious incidents occurred, according to what the Ministry of Defense announced.
Deputy Defense Minister Kim Hong Cheol said during a press conference in Seoul that South Korea “officially offers to hold military negotiations with North Korea to mutually confirm the exact location of the land military contact line, discuss ways to restore military lines of communication, and prevent accidental confrontations in the border areas,” according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.
The division of the Korean Peninsula began in 1945, and two separate states were established in the north and south in 1948. The battles in the Korean War ended with an armistice in 1953, without concluding a peace treaty.
On Friday, Australia announced the imposition of sanctions on individuals and companies from North Korea for engaging in “criminal electronic activities” and using workers in the information technology sector in “fraudulent” ways with the aim of providing funds to the isolated, nuclear-armed regime in Pyongyang.
Australia accuses two men and several companies of playing a pivotal role in managing Pyongyang's criminal cyber activities overseas, which analysts estimate generates billions of dollars for the country's weapons program.
"The North Korean entities and individuals sanctioned today are facilitating the fraudulent use of information technology workers to raise revenues to support the regime's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs," Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong's office said in a statement.
North Korea faces a wide range of international sanctions because of its nuclear program.
Pyongyang is also accused of trying to circumvent these sanctions by employing thousands of workers in the information technology sector who impersonate the nationalities of other countries to obtain remote jobs, and then transfer the money they earn to government agencies in their country.
North Korea strongly denies these allegations and describes them as aimed at “tarnishing” its image.
Last July, the United States and its allies warned that North Korean technology workers were using artificial intelligence tools to more effectively hide their true identities.
Last month, New Zealand's Cyber Security Agency revealed that a North Korean IT worker used a fake identity to get a remote job with a New Zealand company, then threatened to reveal sensitive company information after he was exposed.
The two men whom Australia imposed sanctions on Friday are U Bo Aung and Sim Hyun Sop, and their names were previously included in US sanctions lists.
In 2024, the US Treasury described Yu, who lives in China, as a “key element” in illicit activities that generate money for North Korea, warning that he is “adept at using a variety of methods to avoid detection.”
As for Sim, who is believed to work as a prominent shadow banker for the North Korean regime, he is wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has offered a reward of $5 million for anyone who provides information leading to his arrest, for his role in facilitating the transfer of money to and from North Korea.
