MTCC Confirms Male’ Taxi Line App Not Hacked

Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has clarified that its Male’ Taxi Line application was not hacked, with an internal investigation finding that the unauthorised alteration and leakage of user data was carried out by an employee who accessed the system without permission.

MTCC said the incident was identified promptly by its ICT network security team after unauthorised changes were detected in the taxi application’s database. The company immediately placed the system under a security lockdown, securing its servers and systems by approximately 11:30 p.m. last night.

The company has since restored the application, which is now fully operational, allowing customers to resume using the service without further disruption.

The incident came to light after the names of several drivers registered on the Male’ Taxi Line application were altered, resulting in disruption to the service. Personal information belonging to a number of users, including names, phone numbers, email addresses and wallet IDs, was subsequently circulated on social media.

In a statement issued today, MTCC said its internal investigation found no evidence that the application itself had been hacked. Instead, an employee allegedly accessed the backend system without authorisation and modified and leaked information for personal or political gain.

MTCC has suspended the employee from all work responsibilities and said the strictest disciplinary measures permitted under its policies and regulations will be taken.

The company’s rapid response following the detection of the unauthorised activity highlights the security measures in place to monitor its digital systems and protect the continuity of the service.

MTCC launched the Male’ Taxi Line on April 2, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen the public transportation network and provide a more convenient and modern taxi service for residents of Malé, Hulhumalé and Villimalé.

The service was introduced with an initial fleet of 150 fully electric vehicles, supporting the Government’s wider push towards cleaner and more sustainable transportation.

The Male’ Taxi Line recorded more than 13,000 trips during its first month of operation, demonstrating strong demand for the new service and its role in improving transportation options across the Greater Malé area.

With the application now fully operational, MTCC has reassured customers that the service can continue to be accessed while the company takes further action in response to the unauthorised incident.

The company’s clarification also distinguishes the incident from an external cyberattack, with MTCC’s investigation identifying an internal breach of authorised access rather than a compromise of the application by outside hackers.