# Why has Iraq decided to ban online map service Waze?

https://mins.news/en/item/92771

- Al Jazeera, 2026-10-09 07:48 UTC
- Tech
- Original: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/9/why-has-iraq-decided-to-ban-online-map-service-waze?traffic_source=rss

> Iraq plans to block Waze in early 2027 because the navigation app was developed in Israel, Communications Minister Mustafa Sanad said. Officials point users to Google Maps and a locally developed alternative, while the ban’s legal basis and enforcement remain unclear.