Line is currently under investigation by the Japanese government due to its data security protection. The messaging app had to go through the investigation after a recent report from Japanese media reported that the app’s users data is vulnerable from Chinese engineers at a Shanghai affiliate.
Japan government to reevaluate Line and its security protection
Japan is especially strict in terms of privacy regulations. In recent years, the government has tightened laws and regulations controlling the use and storage of personal data that Internet companies store. Due to this, companies are required to notify their users of their personal data’s protection. Thus, if a Line really does share its users’ personal data overseas, the company should notify its users.
Both Line and the Japanese government are quick in assessing the issue. Quoted from Reuters, a government official responded, “we can’t say yet if Line breached regulations or not, and we are conducting an investigation to find out”. Once the result is out, the Cabinet Office will further direct it accordingly, he continued.
Upon the issue, Line confidently stated through its spokesman that the company did nothing that breached legal or regulatory boundaries. Line’s spokesman added that the company “will continue to respond to laws and regulations in all jurisdictions, including Japan”.
In addition to these statements, Line also addressed an apology letter on its website. Line wrote to be sorry for causing any concern and for not providing enough explanations related to data management policies to its users. Line also assured its users that no inappropriate access occurred.
More about the report
Local media had previously reported that there might have been a flaw in Line’s data protection. According to local media, Line had previously granted access to the company’s Japan servers to four engineers from a China’s company who took care of Line’s system maintenance in 2018. Accordingly, local media suspects the servers to contain Line users’ names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.
Following the news, Line’s spokesman clarified that the Chinese affiliate’s access to user data has been blocked since.
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