Why has Iraq decided to ban online map service Waze? | Privacy News | Al Jazeera

Iraq plans to ban the navigation app Waze, founded in Israel, by the end of December 2026, with enforcement expected in early 2027. Communications Minister Mustafa Sanad announced the move at the Hitex 2026 technology exhibition in Erbil, citing the app's Israeli origin as the reason. Waze, owned by Google since 2013, collects user location data and movement patterns, raising security concerns. The ban is linked to Iraq's non-recognition of Israel and its ongoing state of war with the country since 1948.