CYBERJAYA: The government's decision to ban Waze use for civil servants while allowing Google Maps comes down to the legal jurisdiction each platform falls under.

National Cyber Security Agency (Nacsa) chief executive officer Dr Megat Zuhairy Megat Tajuddin said two main distinctions led to the restrictions, the first being that Waze is subject to the laws of a country Malaysia does not recognise.

He said there was also a possibility that such laws could be used in ways that threaten national security.

"Our decision on Waze was made because, from the legal aspect, Waze is still based in Israel and bound by Israeli law.