Line (software)#Features

Naver had launched a messaging app called Naver Talk for the South Korean market in February 2011.{{cite news |author1=Yoon Ja-young |title=Talk ain't cheap |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2011/09/123_93999.html |access-date=22 November 2021 |work=The Korea Times |date=1 September 2011}} However, rival Korean company Kakao dominated the market with its KakaoTalk app, launched in March 2010{{cite news |last1=Mac |first1=Ryan |title=How KakaoTalk's Billionaire Creator Ignited A Global Messaging War |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/03/02/kakaotalk-billionaire-brian-kim-mobile-messaging-global-competition/ |access-date=22 November 2021 |work=Forbes |date=22 March 2015}}{{cite news |author1=Seo Ji-eun |title=Kakao Talk sees users quintuple from 2011 |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2012/03/12/industry/Kakao-Talk-sees-users-quintuple-from-2011/2949812.html |access-date=22 November 2021 |work=Korea JoongAng Daily |date=12 March 2012}}

Naver/NHN co-founder and chairman Lee Hae-Jin and a team of engineers were in Japan when the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011. The earthquake and tsunami left millions without power and phone lines and SMS networks were overwhelmed. Since Wi-Fi and some 3G remained largely usable, many people turned to KakaoTalk, which was just beginning to gain a foothold in Japan. Lee was inspired to launch a messaging and chat app in the wake of the disaster and his NHN Japan team was testing a beta version of an app accessible on smartphones, tablet and PC, which would work on data network and provide continuous and free instant messaging and calling service, within two months. The app was launched as Line in June 2011.

Because Naver/NHN had a far superior cultural knowledge of what Japanese users wanted, and a much larger corporate marketing budget, Line quickly surpassed KakaoTalk in Japan. Line also offers free voice calls and, since Japan's telecoms make customers pay for both SMSs and smartphone calls, this feature, which KakaoTalk did not have, was a major selling point.

Line experienced an unexpected server overload in October 2011 due to the app's popularity.{{cite web|title=Naver Line App is Back Online in App store|url=http://myphonedaily.com/2011/11/01/naver-line-app-is-back-online/|work=My Phone Daily|publisher=WordPress|access-date=8 July 2013|date=1 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520175839/http://myphonedaily.com/2011/11/01/naver-line-app-is-back-online/|archive-date=20 May 2013|url-status=dead}} To improve scalability to accommodate its user growth, NHN Japan chose HBase as the primary storage for user profiles, contacts and groups.{{cite web|title=The Story behind Line App Development|url=http://www.cubrid.org/blog/dev-platform/the-story-behind-line-app-development/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816105751/http://www.cubrid.org/blog/dev-platform/the-story-behind-line-app-development/|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 August 2013|work=CUBRID.org|access-date=8 July 2013|author=Esen Sagynov|year=2012}} In December 2011, Naver announced that Naver Talk would be merged into Line, effective early 2012.{{cite news|title=네이버, 네이버톡 접고 라인에 올인|url=https://www.hankyung.com/it/article/201112158491i|access-date=2 November 2019|newspaper=Korea Economic Daily|date=15 December 2011}}{{Cite web|url=http://desk.talk.naver.com/|title=네이버 talk|website=desk.talk.naver.com|access-date=2019-11-02}}

In July 2012, NHN Japan announced the new Line features Home and Timeline. The features allowed users to share recent personal developments to a community of contacts in real-time, similar to the status updates in social networking services such as Facebook.{{cite web|title=Line App Gets More Social With "Home" And "Timeline" Features [Social Networks]|url=http://www.serkantoto.com/2012/07/04/line-app-home-timeline/|work=Dr. Serkan Toto – Japan Mobile And Social Games Consulting|access-date=8 July 2013|author=Dr. Serkan Toto|date=4 July 2012}} On April 1, 2013, Naver's Japanese branch name was changed from NHN Japan to Line Corporation.{{cite web |title=【Line】商号変更に関するお知らせ／Information regarding Changes to Company Name |url=https://linecorp.com/press/2013/0401472 |website=Line Corporation |access-date=22 November 2021 |type=Press release |date=1 April 2013}}

Because it was tailored to Japanese consumers' tastes and offered free smartphone calls as well as texting, with the help of a massive marketing campaign it quickly outpaced its existing rival KakaoTalk for the Japanese market. It reached 100 million users within 18 months and 200 million users six months later.{{cite news |date=23 July 2013 |title=Line Hits 200 Million Users, Adding 100 Million in Just 6 Months |url=http://www.techinasia.com/line-hits-200-million-users-adding-100-million-users-6-months/ |access-date=24 July 2013 |newspaper=Tech In Asia}} Line gradually replaced carrier-based email as the most popular method of communication in Japan.{{Cite web |date=2018-01-18 |title=なぜ？ Line からも逃げ出し始めた若者たち |url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/fukayomi/20180117-OYT8T50016/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=読売新聞オンライン |language=ja}}

Line became Japan's largest social network by the end of 2013, with more than 300 million registrants worldwide, of which more than 50 million users were within Japan.Akky Akimoto, 2013-12-17, [http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2013/12/17/digital/looking-at-2013s-japanese-social-media-scene-3/ Looking at 2013′s Japanese social-media scene], The Japan Times{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/11/25/line-messaging-app-300-million/ |title=Line messaging app doubles size in seven months, has 300 million users |date=November 25, 2013 |access-date=November 25, 2013}} In October 2014, Line announced that it had attracted 560 million users worldwide with 170 million active user accounts.{{cite web|last=Horwitz|first=Josh|title=LINE finally reveals it has 170 million monthly active users|url=http://www.techinasia.com/line-japanese-messaging-app-has-170-million-monthly-active-users/|date=9 October 2014}} In February 2015, it announced the 600 million users mark had been passed and 700 million were expected by the end of the year.{{cite web|title=Number of Line users to top 700 mil. this year |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2015/02/419_173201.html |publisher=Korea Times|access-date=16 August 2016|date=8 February 2015}}{{cite web |date=8 February 2015 |title=Number of Line users to top 700 mil. this year |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2015/02/419_173201.html |access-date=16 August 2016 |publisher=Korea Times}}

Line was originally developed as a mobile application for Android and IOS smartphones. The service has since expanded to: BlackBerry OS (August 2012),{{cite web|title=Line is Now Available for BlackBerry!|url=http://en.lineblog.naver.jp/archives/2012-08.html|work=Line Official Blog|publisher=Line Global|access-date=8 July 2013|date=17 August 2012|archive-date=28 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628081938/http://en.lineblog.naver.jp/archives/2012-08.html|url-status=dead}} Nokia Asha (Asia and Oceania, March 2013),{{cite web|title=Line for Nokia 'Asha' Device Scheduled to be released in March 2013!|url=http://en.lineblog.naver.jp/archives/24924144.html|work=Line Official Blog|publisher=Line Global|access-date=8 July 2013|date=26 February 2013|archive-date=3 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903175405/http://en.lineblog.naver.jp/archives/24924144.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Line App to Hit Nokia Asha Phones in March, Keen to Chat Up Emerging Markets|url=http://www.techinasia.com/line-app-launching-on-nokia-asha-march-2013/|work=Tech In Asia|access-date=8 July 2013|author=Steven Millward|date=26 February 2013}} Windows Phone (July 2013),{{cite web|title=NHN Japan Launches Popular Line App for Windows Phone|url=http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/nhn-japan-launches-popular-line-141038015.html|work=Yahoo! Sports|publisher=Yahoo! Inc|access-date=8 July 2013|author=Rick Martin|date=13 June 2012}} Firefox OS (February 2014),{{cite web|title=Line Lands on Firefox Marketplace|url=https://blog.mozilla.org/apps/2014/02/04/line-lands-on-firefox-marketplace|work=Mozilla Apps Blog|publisher=Mozilla Foundation|access-date=4 March 2014|author=Scott DeVaney|date=4 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011002719/https://blog.mozilla.org/apps/2014/02/04/line-lands-on-firefox-marketplace/|archive-date=11 October 2014}} iPadOS (October 2014) and as a Google Chrome App (via the Chrome Web Store). The application also exists in versions for laptop and desktop computers using the Microsoft Windows and macOS platforms.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

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In July 2016, Line Corporation held IPOs on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Tokyo Stock Exchange.{{cite news |last1=Fiegerman |first1=Seth |date=13 July 2016 |title=Line goes public: what you need to know about the year's biggest tech IPO |url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/07/13/technology/line-ipo-walkup/ |access-date=23 November 2021 |work=CNN Business}}

In late December 2020, Line Corporation delisted from both the New York Stock Exchange and the Tokyo Stock Exchange,{{cite web |date=28 December 2020 |title=Announcement Regarding the Delisting of the Common Shares of Line Corporation from the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Delisting of the American Depositary Shares from the New York Stock Exchange |url=https://d.line-scdn.net/stf/linecorp/en/ir/all/LINE_20201228_EN.pdf |access-date=23 November 2021 |website=Line Corporation}} in advance of its absorption-type merger agreement with Z Holdings.{{cite web |date=December 2020 |title=Form 6-K |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1611820/000119312520325161/d77095d6k.htm |access-date=23 November 2021 |website=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |publisher=Line Corporation}}

On March 1, 2021,{{cite news |date=1 March 2021 |title=Yahoo Japan operator, Line merge to take on foreign tech giants |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/03/6805a66d032a-yahoo-japan-operator-line-merge-to-expand-services-globally.html |access-date=9 November 2021 |work=Kyodo News}} SoftBank Group affiliate and Yahoo! Japan operator Z Holdings completed a merger with Line Corporation. Under the new structure, A Holdings, a subsidiary of SoftBank Corporation and Naver Corporation, will own 65.3% of Z Holdings, which will operate Line and Yahoo! Japan.{{Cite web |title=SoftBank unit to invest $4.7bn in Yahoo-Line integration |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/SoftBank2/SoftBank-unit-to-invest-4.7bn-in-Yahoo-Line-integration |access-date=2021-03-09 |website=Nikkei Asia |language=en-GB}}{{cite news |last1=Masuda |first1=Yoko |date=1 March 2021 |title=Yahoo Japan, Line integrate businesses to be major '3rd force' |url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14230871 |access-date=9 November 2021 |work=The Asahi Shimbun}}{{cite news |last1=Eun-Soo |first1=Jin |date=1 March 2021 |title=Naver and SoftBank's A Holdings joint venture established |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2021/03/01/business/tech/naver-line-z-holdings/20210301185000337.html |access-date=9 November 2021 |work=Korea JoongAng Daily}}

By 18 January 2013, Line had been downloaded 100 million times worldwide.{{cite web|title=Line VoIP and Messaging App Now Has More Than 100 Million Users|url=http://www.trutower.com/2013/01/19/line-voip-and-im-app-now-has-more-than-100-million-users/|work=TruTower|access-date=8 July 2013|author=Josh Robert Nay|date=19 January 2013}} The number expanded to 140 million by early July 2013 and to 200 million by July 21.{{cite web|url=http://en.lineblog.naver.jp/archives/30767259.html|title=Line exceeds 200 million users worldwide!|access-date=23 July 2013|date=23 July 2013|archive-date=1 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301035736/http://en.lineblog.naver.jp/archives/30767259.html|url-status=dead}} As of June 2016, Japan claimed 68 million users while Thailand had 33 million.{{cite news|title=Line to raise $1bn in IPO|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1007253/line-to-raise-1bn-in-ipo|access-date=11 June 2016|work=Bangkok Post|date=11 June 2016}} As of February 2014, Indonesia had 20 million users, Taiwan 17 million, while India and Spain had 16 million each.{{cite news| url=http://www.statista.com/statistics/250927/number-of-registered-line-app-users-in-selected-countries/ | work=statista | title=Number of registered Line app users in selected countries as of February 2014 (in millions)}} In April 2014, Naver announced that Line had reached 400 million worldwide users{{cite news|title=Line app tops 500 million users|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/business/2014/04/03/404367/Line-app.htm|access-date=3 April 2014|work=China Post|date=3 April 2014}} and by 2017 this had grown to 700 million.{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessofapps.com/data/line-statistics/|title=Line Revenue and Usage Statistics (2017) – Business of Apps|work=Business of Apps|access-date=2018-11-30}}

As of 2021 Line had 92 million users in Japan, and a total of 178 million across its four largest markets: Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan and Thailand. A survey done in 2023 showed that, for the first time, more Japanese seniors preferred to use Line over email for communicating.{{Cite news |date=2023-08-29 |title=Japan seniors use Line messaging app more than email to stay in touch: survey |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230829/p2a/00m/0sc/014000c |access-date=2024-08-02 |work=Mainichi Daily News |language=en}}

Line is an application that works on multiple platforms and has access via multiple personal computer operating systems. Users can also share photos, videos and music, send the current or any specific: locations, voice audios, emojis, stickers and emoticons to friends. Users can see a real-time confirmation when messages are sent and received or use a hidden chat feature, which can hide and delete a chat history (from both involved devices and Line servers) after a time set by the user.{{cite web |url=https://thenextweb.com/apps/2014/07/22/messaging-app-line-gets-serious-privacy-telegram-inspired-hidden-chat-feature/ |title=Messaging app Line gets serious about privacy with Telegram-inspired 'hidden chat' feature |author=Jon Russel |date=22 July 2014 |publisher=TheNextWeb |access-date=24 November 2014 }}

The application also makes free voice and video calls. Users can also chat and share media in a group by creating and joining groups that have up to 500 people. Chats also provide bulletin boards on which users can post, like and comment. This application also has timeline and homepage features that allow users to post pictures, text and stickers on their homepages. Users can also change their Line theme to the theme Line provides in the theme shop for free or users can buy other famous cartoon characters they like. Line also has a feature, called a Snap movie, that users can use to record a stop-motion video and add in provided background music.

In January 2015, Line Taxi was released in Tokyo as a competitor to Uber.{{cite news|last1=Vincent|first1=James|title=Japanese messaging app Line has launched a taxi service in Tokyo|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/1/8/7513161/line-taxi-launches-in-japan-to-battle-Uber|access-date=3 September 2015|work=The Verge|date=8 January 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Cohen|first1=Dave|title=Line Taxi launches, gives Uber first major challenger in Japan|url=https://www.techinasia.com/line-taxi-launch/|access-date=3 September 2015|work=Tech In Asia|date=6 January 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Kosoff|first1=Maya|title=This Japanese Messaging App Is Launching Its Own Taxi Service To Take On Uber|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/line-messaging-app-taxi-service-2015-1|access-date=3 September 2015|work=Business Insider|date=8 January 2015}} Line launched a new android app called "Popcorn buzz" in June 2015. The app facilitates group calls with up to 200 members.{{Cite web|url=http://previewtech.net/popcorn-buzz-app-line/|title=Popcorn Buzz app launched by Line. Can do group call|date=5 June 2015|access-date=June 5, 2015|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018184009/https://previewtech.net/popcorn-buzz-app-line/|url-status=dead}} In June a new Emoji keyboard was also released for IOS devices, which provides a Line-like experience with the possibility to add stickers.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/06/17/you-wont-use-our-messaging-app-so-heres-a-funky-keyboard/|title=Line Takes Aims At The U.S. Market With An Emoji Keyboard App For iOS|first=Jon|last=Russell|date=June 17, 2015 }} In September 2015 a new Android launcher was released on the Google Play Store, helping the company to promote its own services through the new user interface.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/08/31/messaging-firm-line-introduces-a-launcher-app-for-android-devices/|title=Messaging Firm Line Introduces A Launcher App For Android Devices|first=Jon|last=Russell|date=September 2015 }}

Line includes a feature known as "official channels" which allows companies, especially news media outlets, publications and other mass media companies to offer an official channel which users can join and thereby receive regular updates, published articles or news updates from companies or news outlets.[https://respond.io/blog/line-official-account/ Ultimate Guide to LINE for Business (Aug 2020)] By Serene Tan, online overview article.[https://developers.line.biz/en/docs/messaging-api/getting-started/ Getting started with the Messaging API], Official Line guide, official website, accessed February 15, 2021.

Line features a Sticker Shop where users are able to purchase virtual stickers depicting original and well-known characters. The stickers are used during chat sessions between users and act as large emoji. Users can purchase stickers as gifts, with many stickers available as free downloads, depending on country availability. Purchased stickers are attached to an account and can be used on other platforms. New sticker sets are released weekly. Line's message stickers feature original characters as well as a number of popular manga, anime and gaming characters, movie tie-ins and characters from Disney properties such as Pixar. Some sticker sets, such as those that celebrate special events like the 2012 Summer Olympics, are released for only a limited time. Other sticker sets that support charity are known as Charity Stickers. For example, in 2016, Line released "Support Kumamoto" Charity Stickers to provide aid to victims of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. All proceeds earned from the sales of these stickers were to be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society to provide financial support and aid for the victims.{{cite press release |date=18 April 2016 |title=Line Releases Charity Stickers 'Support Kumamoto' Worldwide to Aid Victims of Kumamoto Earthquakes |url=https://linecorp.com/en/pr/news/en/2016/1327 |access-date=8 January 2023}}

The original default characters and stickers, known as Line Friends, were created by Kang Byeongmok, also known as "Mogi", in 2011.{{cite web|title=스마트 폰 속 이모티콘, 세상 밖으로|url=http://www.i-bait.com/read.php?num=5545&cataId=NLC017004|website=시사매거진 바이트|access-date=28 April 2017|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018184005/http://www.i-bait.com/read.php?num=5545&cataId=NLC017004|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title='라인 (Line)'은 일본製일까 한국製일까|url=http://www.pressm.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=8738|website=프레스맨|date = 5 July 2016|access-date=28 April 2017|language=ko}}

There are over 1 billion stickers sent by worldwide users on a daily basis.{{cite news|title=Taiwan market has great potential for Line|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/taiwan-market-has-great-potential-for-line/|access-date=10 December 2013|newspaper=ZDNet|date=27 November 2013}} The popular characters Milk & Mocha began as stickers on Line in Indonesia.(15 July 2019). [https://inisurabaya.com/2019/07/milk-mocha-stiker-karya-kreator-surabaya-ini-diluncurkan-di-thailand-dan-taiwan/ Milk & Mocha, Stiker Karya Kreator Surabaya Ini Diluncurkan di Thailand dan Taiwan], iniSURABAYA (in Indonesian)

NHN Japan created Line Games in 2011. Only those with a Line application account can install and play the games. Players can connect with friends, send and accept items and earn friend points. The game range includes: puzzles, match-three, side-scroller, musical performance, simulation, battle and spot-the-difference games. In September 2013, Line Corporation announced its games had been downloaded 200 million times worldwide.{{cite news |title=【2億DL記念！】9/13から Line のゲームが続々キャンペーン実施！ |url=http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/8064681/ |work=Livedoor |date=13 September 2013 |access-date=22 September 2018 |language=ja}}

On July 10, 2017, Line Games acquired NextFloor Corporation, developers of Dragon Flight and Destiny Child.{{Cite web |date=July 10, 2017 |title=Line: Establishes Line Games, Acquires NextFloor |url=https://www.marketscreener.com/LINE-CORP-28896409/news/LINE-Establishes-LINE-GAMES-Acquires-NextFloor-24723509/ |access-date=2019-08-03 |website=MarketScreener |language=en}} On January 5, 2017, Line Games was announced as the publisher for Hundred Soul (formerly known as Project 100) by Hound 13.{{Cite web|url=https://mmoculture.com/2017/01/hundred-soul-gorgeous-action-mobile-rpg-finds-publisher/|title=Hundred Soul – Gorgeous action mobile RPG finds publisher|last=cinderboy|date=2017-01-05|website=MMO Culture|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-03}}

On December 12, 2018, Line Games held a media event called LPG (Line Games-Play-Game) to introduce its games for 2019. Mobile games announced include: Exos Heroes (by OOZOO), Ravenix: The Card Master (also by OOZOO), Dark Summoners (by SkeinGlobe), Project PK (by Rock Square) and Super String (by Factorial Games). Project NM by Space Dive was also announced for PC. Games to be released on mobile and PC include: Project NL (by MeerKat Games) and Uncharted Waters Origins (by Line Games and Koei Tecmo).{{Cite web|url=https://mmoculture.com/2018/12/line-games-publisher-reveals-several-new-mobile-and-pc-games-for-global-market/|title=Line Games – Publisher reveals several new mobile and PC games for global market|last=cinderboy|date=2018-12-12|website=MMO Culture|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-03}}

On 10 Jul 2019, Nintendo released Dr. Mario World co-developed by Line Games.{{Cite web|url=https://toucharcade.com/2019/07/09/dr-mario-world-early-release-app-store-free-download/|title='Dr. Mario World' from Nintendo and Line Has Released a Day Early on the App Store|date=2019-07-09|website=TouchArcade|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-03}} On July 18, 2019, First Summoner developed by SkeinGlobe was released.

• Line Rangers
• Tsum Tsum
• LINE Brown Farm
• Brown Toys
• LINE Chef
• LINE POP2
• LINE Puzzle TanTan
• LINE Bubble!
• LINE Bubble 2
• LINE Pokopang - puzzle game!

• I Love Coffee
• LINE POP
• LINE Play
• LINE Cookie Run
• Line Fighters
• Line Brown Stories (Asia)

Line introduced Line Pay worldwide on December 16, 2014. The service allows users to request and send money from users in their contact list and make mobile payments in store.{{cite web|url=https://www.techinasia.com/line-pay-launches|title=Now it's official. Line Pay is here and it's worldwide (and has an iOS bug)|publisher=Tech in Asia|access-date=February 28, 2018}} The service has since expanded to allow other features such as offline wire transfers when making purchases and ATM transactions like depositing and withdrawing money. Unlike other Line services, Line Pay is offered worldwide through the Line app.

Line Taxi was launched in January 2015 in partnership with Nihon Kotsu, a local taxi service in Japan.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/01/08/line-taxi-japan/|title=Line Launches A Taxi Booking Service In Japan Because Chat Apps Have Become Platforms|date=January 8, 2015 |publisher=TechCrunch|access-date=February 28, 2018}} Like Line Pay, Line Taxi was not offered as a separate app but rather through the Line app where users can request a taxi and automatically pay for it when they connect their account to Line Pay.{{cite web|url=https://www.techinasia.com/line-taxi-launch|title=Line Taxi launches, gives Uber first major challenger in Japan|publisher=Tech in Asia|access-date=February 28, 2018}} Line Taxi was discontinued on 31st August 2018.{{cite web |title=LINE、タクシー配車サービス「LINE TAXI」を終了 8月31日で |url=https://www.traicy.com/20180803-linetaxi |website=TRAICY|date=August 3, 2018 }}

Announced alongside Line Pay and Line Taxi, a service that allows users to instantly access delivery services for registered food or products and services.{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/messaging-giant-line-to-launch-mobile-payment-service-in-japan/|title=Messaging giant Line to launch mobile payment service in Japan|publisher=ZDNet|access-date=February 28, 2018}}

A news hub integrated in the Line app.

A referral program for online shopping. Customers get extra discount or earn Line Points by purchasing through the Line Shopping service.

A gift sending services on Line. Customers can send gift via Line.{{cite web|url=https://codigital.co.jp/en/words/line/|title=Line – The Biggest Messaging Platform in Japan=CoDigital, inc.|access-date=August 16, 2022|archive-date=August 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815171434/https://codigital.co.jp/en/words/line|url-status=dead}}

A matching platform for finding doctors online.

{{Infobox software

| name = Line Lite

| logo = LINE Lite logo.svg

| logo size = 100px

| developer = Line Corporation

| latest release version = 2.17.1

| latest release date = 2021-09-13 {{Cite web|url=https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/line-corporation/line-lite/|title=Line Lite: Free Calls & Messages APKs – APKMirror|website=APKMirror}}

| operating system = Android

| size = 8.89 MB

}}

In 2015, a lower-overhead Android app was released for emerging markets called Line Lite. This supports messages and calls{{Cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.linecorp.linelite|title = LINE Lite: Free Calls & Messages – Apps on Google Play}} but not themes or timeline.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/07/23/line-lite/|title = Line Launches Lightweight Version of Its Chat App for Emerging Market Android Phones| date=July 23, 2015 }}

It became available worldwide in August 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://official-blog.line.me/en/archives/1037373090.html|title = Line Lite, New Streamlined Version of Line, Available Almost Everywhere Worldwide!| date=August 18, 2015 }}

In January 2022 Line announced the discontinuation of Line Lite, taking effect on the 28th February 2022.

Line accounts can be accessed on only one mobile device (running the app version) or one personal computer (running the version for these). Additional mobile devices can install the app but require different mobile numbers or e-mail addresses for the Line account.{{cite web|url=http://line.naver.jp/help/iphone/en/serviceId/10155|title=FAQ: Can I use the same Line account from multiple devices? |access-date=December 30, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://help.line.me/line/?lang=en#20000132|title=Help Center – Line|website=help.line.me}}

If "Line Lite" for Android was installed and activated, the user was told they will be "logged out of the normal Line". This message did not make clear that it was impossible to log back in to the normal Line, which would delete all history data when next launched."Unable to use device. It looks like you are using this account on another device. All your Line data on this device will be deleted." and only an OK button is presented. Line Lite has now been discontinued.

In August 2013, it was possible to intercept a Line chat session at the network level using packet capture software and to reconstruct it on a PC. Messages were sent in cleartext to Line's server when on cellular data but encrypted when using Wi-Fi most of the time.{{cite web |url=http://www.telecomasia.net/blog/content/line-vulnerable-man-middle-attack |title=Line vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attack |work=Telecomasia.net |author=Sambandaraksa, Don |date=28 August 2013 |access-date=29 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106065218/https://www.telecomasia.net/blog/content/line-vulnerable-man-middle-attack |archive-date=6 January 2018 |url-status=dead }}

Until February 2016, it was also possible to "clone" an iPhone from a backup and then use the "cloned" iPhone to access the same Line account as used by the original iPhone. This loophole was widely rumored (but never proven) to have been used to intercept Line messages between the popular Japanese television personality Becky and her married romantic partner Enon Kawatani; the intercepted messages were published in the magazine Shukan Bunshun and led to the temporary suspension of Becky's television career.{{cite news|title=Line"盗み見"に対策 「クローンiPhone」不可能に|url=http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1602/23/news106.html|access-date=30 May 2016|work=ITmedia News|date=22 February 2016}}

In July 2016, Line Corporation turned on end-to-end encryption by default for all Line users.{{cite web|last1=Sawers|first1=Paul|title=Ahead of IPO, mobile messaging giant Line introduces end-to-end encryption by default|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/06/30/ahead-of-ipo-mobile-messaging-giant-line-introduces-end-to-end-encryption-by-default/|website=VentureBeat|access-date=15 July 2016|date=30 June 2016}} It had earlier been available as an opt-in feature since October 2015.{{cite web|author1=JI|title=New generation of safe messaging: "Letter Sealing"|url=http://developers.linecorp.com/blog/?p=3679|website=Line Engineers' Blog|publisher=Line Corporation|access-date=15 July 2016|date=13 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708212507/http://developers.linecorp.com/blog/?p=3679|archive-date=8 July 2016|url-status=dead}} The app uses the ECDH protocol for client-to-client encryption. In August 2016, Line expanded its end-to-end encryption to also encompass its group chats, voice calls and video calls.{{cite web|author1=Shin, Ki Bin|title=The next step for even safer messaging: Letter Sealing|url=http://developers.linecorp.com/blog/?p=3938|publisher=Line Corporation|access-date=30 September 2016|date=11 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002044533/http://developers.linecorp.com/blog/?p=3938|archive-date=2 October 2016|url-status=dead}}

In March 2021, the Japanese government announced that it would investigate Line after reports that it let Chinese system-maintenance engineers in Shanghai access Japanese users' data without informing them,{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=2021-03-17|title=Japan to probe Line after reports it let Chinese engineers access user data|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-line-access-idUSKBN2B901E|access-date=2021-03-17}} beginning in August 2018.{{cite news |last1=Minemura |first1=Kenji |last2=Obu |first2=Toshiya |title=Personal data of millions of Line users accessed by affiliate in China |url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14276271 |access-date=12 November 2021 |work=The Asahi Shimbun |date=17 March 2021}} Four Chinese engineers in a Shanghai-based affiliate that Line subcontracted to develop AI accessed the messages stored in the Japanese computer system and personal information of Line users, such as: name, phone number, email address and Line ID. Photos and video footage posted by Japanese users were also stored on a server in South Korea.{{cite news |title=Japan gov't warns Line over insufficient personal data protection |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/04/287f9d135fd5-govt-warns-line-over-insufficient-data-protection.html |access-date=19 November 2021 |work=Kyodo News |date=26 April 2021}} Line stated in March 2021 that it had since blocked access to user data at the Chinese affiliate and that it would revise its privacy policy and make it more explicit. Line had been used by the Japanese government and local governments to notify residents about developments in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. In response to the reports of security issues, the national government and many local governments halted their usage of Line in late March 2021.{{cite news |last1=Michinaga |first1=Tatsuya |last2=Goto |first2=Tsuyoshi |last3=Matsukura |first3=Yusuke |title=Japan gov't, many local bodies halt use of Line app following data breach |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210324/p2a/00m/0na/013000c |access-date=19 November 2021 |work=The Mainichi |date=24 March 2021}} In April 2021 the government ordered Line to take measures to properly protect customers' information and to report improvement measures within a month. Line also relocated image and other data stored in South Korea to Japan. As of November 2021, the Tokyo metropolitan government offers proof of COVID-19 vaccinations through the Line app, with expansion planned for other prefectures.{{cite news |last1=Karube |first1=Rihito |title=Tokyo offers proof of COVID-19 vaccinations through Line app |url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14473742 |access-date=19 November 2021 |work=The Asahi Shimbun |date=2 November 2021}}

On 12 April 2021, Line suffered a large-scale crash in Taiwan.{{Cite web|title=Line crashes in Taiwan 2021/04/12|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4174952|access-date=2021-04-27|website=Taiwan News|date=12 April 2021}}

More than 70,000 Line Pay users in Taiwan have been affected by a leak of transaction information during the period from December 26, 2020, to April 2, 2021.{{Cite web|title=Over 70,000 Line Pay users in Taiwan affected by data leak |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202112070008|access-date=2021-12-07|website=focustaiwan.tw|date=December 7, 2021 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}

In October 2023, the company confirmed a data breach where over 440,000 items of personal data were leaked. This included user age groups, genders, and partial service usage history, along with business partner and employee information like email addresses and names. The leak was traced back to unauthorized access through a Naver subcontractor's computer, which shared an authentication system with Line, allowing the breach.{{cite web | title=Line operator says some 440,000 items of personal data leaked | website=The Japan Times | date=2023-11-27 | url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/11/27/companies/line-data-leak/ | access-date=2024-03-06}} In March 2024, the Japanese government ordered Line and Naver to separate their systems because of the data leak.{{cite web | last=Sharwood | first=Simon | title=Japan orders Line and Naver to disentangle their tech | website=The Register | date=2024-03-06 | url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/03/06/japan_line_naver_infosec_guidance/ | access-date=2024-03-06}}

Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications issued administrative guidance to LY Corporation twice on April 16, 2024.LY Corporation is required to submit another report by The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications before July 1, 2024.{{cite news |title=Line Operator Gets Administrative Guidance Again |url=https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/business/companies/20240417-180982/ |work=2024-04-17}}{{cite news |title=Line Operator Gets Administrative Guidance Again |url=https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2024041600831/ |work=2024-04-16 |archive-date=April 18, 2024 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418162715/https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2024041600831/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=Japanese government rejects Yahoo! infosec improvement plan |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/17/japan_rejects_line_yahoo_security_plan/ |work=2024-04-17}}

Line suppressed content in China to conform with government censorship.{{cite web | url=https://citizenlab.org/2013/11/asia-chats-investigating-regionally-based-keyword-censorship-line/|title=Asia Chats: Investigating Regionally-based Keyword Censorship in Line|date=14 November 2013|access-date=4 November 2014 |last1=Hardy |first1=Seth }} Analysis by Citizen Lab showed that accounts registered with Chinese phone numbers download a list of banned words that cannot be sent or received through Line.{{cite web | url=https://citizenlab.org/2014/04/line-censored-keywords-update/ |title=Asia Chats: Line Censored Keywords Update |date=30 April 2014 |access-date=4 November 2014 |last1=Ng |first1=Jason Q. |last2=Crete-Nishihata |first2=Masashi |last3=Hardy |first3=Seth |last4=Dalek |first4=Jakub |last5=Senft |first5=Adam }}

Line publicly confirmed the practice in December 2013.{{cite web |url=https://citizenlab.org/2013/12/asia-chats-line-responds/|title=Asia Chats: Line Corporation Responds|date=6 December 2013|access-date=4 November 2014|quote=Line had to conform to local regulations during its expansion into mainland China, and as a result the Chinese version of Line, "Lianwo", was developed. The details of the system are kept private, and there are no plans to release them to the public. |last1=Crete-Nishihata |first1=Masashi |last2=Hardy |first2=Seth |last3=Ng |first3=Jason Q. |last4=Dalek |first4=Jakub |last5=Senft |first5=Adam }} However, by 2014, access to Line chat servers has been entirely blocked by the Great Firewall, while the company still makes revenue in China from brick-and-mortar stores.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-28156725|title=Chat apps hit by China disruption|work=BBC News|date=4 July 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://qz.com/470014/one-year-after-the-government-banned-its-chat-app-line-is-still-in-china-selling-lattes-and-tote-bags/|title=One year after the government banned it, Line is still in China—selling lattes|first=Josh|last=Horwitz|website=Quartz|date=August 3, 2015 }}

In Indonesia, Line has responded to pressure from the Indonesian Communication and Information Ministry to remove emojis and stickers it believes make reference to homosexuality, for example the emoji "two men holding hands". Line issued a public statement on the issue: "Line regrets the incidents of some stickers which are considered sensitive by many people. We ask for your understanding because at the moment we are working on this issue to remove the stickers".{{cite news | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-12/indonesia-bans-gay-emojis-on-messaging-apps/7164674/|title=Indonesia bans 'gay' emojis on messaging apps |newspaper=ABC News |date=12 February 2016|access-date=12 February 2016}}

In Thailand, Line is suspected of responding to pressure from the Thai government and, after previously approving 'Red Buffalo' stickers, which had been used to refer to the Red Shirts political faction, including by the Red Shirts themselves, removed the stickers.{{Cite web |date=November 11, 2014 |title=New Thai buffalo stickers for Line |url=http://2bangkok.com/new-buffalo-stickers-for-line.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803100558/http://2bangkok.com/new-buffalo-stickers-for-line.html |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |access-date=2020-05-30 |website=2Bangkok.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite news|title=Red buffalo sticker banned|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/tech/436370/red-buffalo-sticker-banned|last=|newspaper=Bangkok Post|date=October 7, 2014 |access-date=2020-05-30}}

In Russia, on 28 April 2017, Russia's Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) placed Line on a banned list. Telecommunications companies appear to have taken steps in May to progressively block access to Line and other services using smartphones. The Russian Internet Regulation Law obliges social network operators to store personal information of their Russian customers in the country and submit it if requested by the authorities; Line is believed to have been found to be in breach of this provision. According to reports, BBM, Imo.im and Vchat have been newly added to the list of banned services, in addition to Line. On 3 May 2017 access to Line chat servers was entirely blocked by the Roskomnadzor and the Line servers were added to the Unified Register of Banned Sites, after which Russian users began to experience problems receiving and sending messages.{{Cite web|title=当局が Line 禁止！！ 通信情報提供せず処分|url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20170506/dde/018/030/038000c|date=6 May 2017|access-date=15 Oct 2020|archive-date=October 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018011827/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20170506/dde/018/030/038000c|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=「Line」が急に使えなくなったロシアの事情|url=https://zuuonline.com/archives/150819 |date=8 May 2017|accessdate=4 Aug 2022}}

The chief executive officer of Line, Mr. Morikawa, has stated that they referred to services like KakaoTalk and Instagram when developing Line.{{Cite web|title=LLine、Naver まとめはなぜ強いのか？―― Line 株式会社 森川亮社長8000字インタビュー|url=https://www.itmedia.co.jp/makoto/articles/1309/04/news016_2.html|website=ITmedia ビジネスオンライン|accessdate=2021-12-06|language=ja}}

A game similar to KakaoTalk’s top hit "Anipang" appeared on Line as "Line Pop".{{cite news|url=https://japanese.joins.com/JArticle/168254|title=韓国カカオトーク「事業モデル、Line がすべて真似て…」（１） |newspaper=中央日報（日本語版）|publisher=Joongang Ilbo|date=2013-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616144143/https://japanese.joins.com/JArticle/168254 |accessdate=2014-07-06|archive-date=June 16, 2020 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.fnnews.com/news/201211271716213054|title=네이버 '라인' 카카오톡 게임 모방 논란|publisher=파이낸셜뉴스|date=2012-11-27|accessdate=2014-07-07}}{{cite news|url=https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/12155|title=スマホに復活する「タイムマシン経営」|newspaper=東洋経済オンライン|publisher=東洋経済新報社|date=2012-12-18|accessdate=2014-07-07}}{{cite news|url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999904/20130325030/|author=島国大和|title=【島国大和】ソーシャルゲームを解体してみるよ。|publisher=4Gamer.net|date=2013-03-26|accessdate=2014-07-07}}

The "Furufuru" feature on Line, which allowed users to add friends by shaking their smartphones in the same location and exchanging contact information, was found to infringe on a patent held by a Kyoto-based IT company called "Future Eye." The company filed a lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court, demanding 300 million yen in compensation. The court ruled on May 19, 2021, acknowledging the patent infringement and ordering Line to pay approximately 14 million yen in damages. Line later revealed that it had reached a settlement with Future Eye and expressed its intention to continue respecting intellectual property while improving its services for customers. The "Furufuru" feature was discontinued in May 2020.{{Cite web|title=Line 「ふるふる」機能 特許侵害1400万円余の賠償命令 東京地裁|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20210519/k10013039161000.html|website=NHKニュース|accessdate=2021-05-19|last=日本放送協会|date=2021-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519045206/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20210519/k10013039161000.html |archive-date=May 19, 2021 }}{{Cite web|title=Line に 1400 万円賠償命令 「ふるふる」特許侵害認定―東京地裁|url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2021051900824&g=soc|website=時事通信|accessdate=2021-05-19|date=2021-05-19| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519064908/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2021051900824&g=soc | archive-date=May 19, 2021 }}

Since around 2012, as Line gained popularity, there was an increasing concern about the safety of personal information. It was noted that the contents of phonebooks, which contain "other people's personal information," were being uploaded to third parties without their consent.{{cite web|author=井上トシユキ|url=https://www.j-cast.com/kaisha/2012/08/19143243.html?p=all|title=だから私は絶対に「Line」を使わない|work=J-CAST 会社ウォッチ|publisher=J-CAST|date=2012-08-19|accessdate=2013-01-24}}

Since phone numbers are used to identify accounts on Line, there is a risk of misuse when phone numbers, which are used for membership registrations or reservations, are exploited.[https://www.j-cast.com/2017/04/14295677.html ヤマト配達員、伝票電話番号で Line ナンパ　ツイッターで暴露、会社謝罪] – 2017年4月14日 J-CASTニュース[https://biz-journal.jp/company/post_13513.html セブンのnanacoカードが危ない!店員が女性客の登録情報をもとにナンパ] – 2016年1月28日 ビジネスジャーナル

There have been concerns about the risks of phone number-linked social graphs being leaked or users’ Line registration names being associated with their phone numbers, especially when using the desktop version to register phone numbers randomly.{{Cite web|author=高木浩光|url=http://takagi-hiromitsu.jp/diary/20120703.html|title=Line がこの先生きのこるには|publisher=高木浩光＠自宅の日記|date=2012-07-03|accessdate=2013-07-02}}

In April 2013, Line announced that it had received three global assurance reports, confirming the security of its information management. However, there have been several instances of personal information leaks since then. Of the three certifications, one was a simplified version of SOC2 that was used for marketing purposes.{{Cite web|url=https://linfordco.com/blog/soc-2-vs-soc-3/|website=linfordco.com|accessdate=2021-03-24|title=SOC 2 vs SOC 3 Reports: What is the Difference?}}

Due to ongoing concerns, Line began recommending the use of the [+Message] service for more secure communication in 2021.

The Information-Technology Promotion Agency notified Line about several critical software vulnerabilities, such as the risk of external access to chat history and photos, and the exposure of data stored on SD cards. Despite being notified about multiple vulnerabilities, Line acknowledged only a few and did not take steps to resolve them. The agency repeatedly informed Line until the company finally admitted the issue, which was reported by FACTA Online in 2015.{{Cite news|url=https://facta.co.jp/article/201504047.html|title=Line に履歴「丸裸」の脆弱性|newspaper=FACTA|publisher=ファクタ出版|date=2015-03-29|accessdate=2015-03-29}}

Since around 2012, there has been an increasing trend of incidents such as extortion and compensated dating occurring through Line. However, Line does not have a feature for exchanging contact information with strangers, similar to "dating apps." Most of these incidents happen through external bulletin boards, websites, or apps, where users exchange IDs and then establish contact with each other{{cite news|url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/net/security/goshinjyutsu/20130419-OYT8T00490.htm |title=Line がきっかけの事件多発…原因はスマホ利用に？|newspaper=読売オンライン|publisher=読売新聞社|date=2013-04-19|accessdate=2013-07-02|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140713024446/https://web.archive.org/web/20130422062431/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/net/security/goshinjyutsu/20130419-OYT8T00490.htm|archivedate=2014-07-13}} 90% of girls are sexually victimized via smartphones, with the majority using Line, according to a scattering of sources.{{cite news |url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/net/news0/national/20140319-OYT1T00095.htm|title=少女性被害、９割スマホ経由…大半「Line」|newspaper=読売オンライン|publisher=読売新聞社|date=2014-03-19|accessdate=2014-03-20|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140713024341/https://web.archive.org/web/20140323030049/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/net/news0/national/20140319-OYT1T00095.htm|archivedate=2014-07-13}} It has been observed that 90% of sexual crimes involving minors occur through smartphones, with the majority of cases using Line.{{Cite news|url=https://megalodon.jp/2014-1016-1953-39/www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20141016/t10015455801000.html|title=女子高生自殺…獰猛「Lineいじめ」、学校も親もついてゆけず|newspaper=iza|date=2014-11-12|accessdate=2014-11-12}} Line's terms of service also prohibit using the service for the purpose of meeting strangers for dating.{{cite web|url=https://terms.line.me/line_terms |title=Line 利用規約|date=2013-04-01|accessdate=2020-06-16}}

Services that aim to exchange Line IDs through bulletin boards, unlike dating sites, are not subject to regulations like the Dating Sites Regulation Law or the Harmful Site Regulation Law, and are not filtered by laws aimed at protecting minors.{{cite news|url=https://mainichi.jp/select/news/20130508k0000m040087000c.html|title=スマホアプリ: Line に潜む犯罪 掲示板規制なし|newspaper=毎日jp|publisher=毎日新聞社|date=2013-05-08|accessdate=2013-07-02|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607052051/http://mainichi.jp/select/news/20130508k0000m040087000c.html|archivedate=2013-06-07}} As a result, the police can only respond to requests for action,{{cite news |url=https://sankei.jp.msn.com/west/west_affairs/news/130628/waf13062822340037-n1.htm|title=Line 用出会い系アプリ 業者が削除 京都府警の要請で全国初|newspaper=MSN産経ニュース|publisher=産経新聞社|date=2013-06-28|accessdate=2013-07-02|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216195803/http://sankei.jp.msn.com/west/west_affairs/news/130628/waf13062822340037-n1.htm|archivedate=2013-12-16}} while Line has taken measures such as issuing warnings about these services and periodically blocking ID search features for users under the age of 18.

Students with immature social skills have used Line to engage in verbal abuse, exclusion, the spreading of bullying images, and other forms of new bullying. Educational institutions and boards are urgently working on countermeasures.{{cite news|url=https://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/education/article/20130630000029|title=中学生、Line のトラブル続発 草津市教委、対策急ぐ|newspaper=京都新聞|publisher=京都新聞社|date=2013-06-30|accessdate=2014-07-06|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703115934/http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/education/article/20130630000029|archivedate=2013-07-03}}

Due to the ongoing misuse of Line for sexual crimes, Kyoto Prefecture and the Kyoto Prefectural Police have requested Line to implement measures promoting proper use, prevent the misuse of "bulletin board apps" that could lead to child pornography or child prostitution, and create systems that make it harder for users to access illegal or harmful content.{{cite news|url=https://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/politics/article/20130718000019 |title=「Line」に性的犯罪対策を要請 京都府、府警|newspaper=京都新聞|publisher=京都新聞社|date=2013-07-18|accessdate=2014-07-06|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727064919/http://kyoto-np.co.jp/politics/article/20130718000019|archivedate=2013-07-27}}

In 2014, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) reported an increase in bullying cases involving computers and mobile phones. Shuichi Hirai, Director of the Division of Students and Pupils at MEXT, stated, "Bullying through platforms like Line has evolved, and it has become harder for adults to detect these incidents".{{Cite news|url=https://megalodon.jp/2014-1016-1953-39/www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20141016/t10015455801000.html|title=いじめ１８万件余 ＰＣや携帯使用が増加|newspaper=NHK|date=2014-10-16|accessdate=2014-10-16}} Cyberbullying, which occurs in private communications between children, makes it difficult for others to observe, and existing countermeasures have not been effective. Line is often used for malicious actions, such as excluding individuals from groups, spreading insults and defamatory statements, and sharing humiliating images. These types of harmful posts are frequently observed during long holidays.{{Cite news|url=https://times.abema.tv/articles/-/2883252|title="Line いじめ"夏休みに加速する実態とは 自殺が多い９月１日に考える|newspaper=abematimes|date=2017-09-01|accessdate=2017-09-05}}

In August 2017, the National Web Counseling Association received a record number of 353 inquiries about Line-related bullying.{{Cite news|url=https://tone.ne.jp/column/education/line-bullying/|title=どうしたら子供を「Line いじめ」から守れるか。加害者にも被害者させないために親ができること|newspaper=tone|date=2017-10-18|accessdate=2021-11-24}}

In June 2014, a series of incidents occurred where Line accounts were hijacked, and special fraud was committed using these accounts.[https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFK1400U_U4A710C1000000/ Line 乗っ取り事件の真相　新手詐欺、どう防ぐ] 日本経済新聞、2014年7月16日 The fraudsters used leaked passwords to illegally log in and posed as acquaintances to extort web money from victims. Reports also indicated that celebrities had their Line accounts hijacked.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rbbtoday.com/article/2014/07/11/121630.html|title=仲里依紗、ヒャダイン、薬丸……芸能界でも Line 乗っ取り被害者続出|newspaper=RBB TODAY|date=2014-06-20|accessdate=2014-07-12}}

In the summer of 2019, two minors living in the Kanto region of Japan learned about a vulnerability in Line's image server. They accessed the server illegally using their home computers, leading to their prosecution under the Unauthorized Computer Access Law. The two minors claimed they were "just trying to see if it was true" when questioned.{{Cite news|title=Line サーバーに不正接続 容疑の高校生ら書類送検|url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASN6W3R8LN6WUTIL004.html|newspaper=朝日新聞DIGITAL|date=2020-06-27|accessdate=2020-06-27}}

On June 18, 2014, FACTA Online reported that the South Korean government had been intercepting Line's data (free calls and text messages). According to the article, South Korean cybersecurity officials admitted during a meeting with Japan's Cabinet Cybersecurity Center that the National Intelligence Service of South Korea was collecting and analyzing data exchanged on Line. They also claimed that wiretapping, or directly collecting data from communication lines, is not illegal in South Korea due to the absence of laws protecting the "secrecy of communications" in the country.{{Cite news|url=https://facta.co.jp/article/201407039.html|title=韓国国情院が Line 傍受|newspaper=FACTAオンライン|publisher=ファクタ出版|date=2014-06-18|accessdate=2018-03-07}}

In response to this report, Lines president at the time, Akira Morikawa, denied the claims in a blog post, stating that there was no such incident. He emphasized that Line's communication data showed no signs of unauthorized access, and argued that Line employs its own encryption format, making it impossible to analyze the data{{Cite web|url=https://lineblog.me/morikawa/archives/1023072161.html|title=本日報道の一部記事について|work=森川亮 公式ブログ |date=2014-06-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616144148/https://lineblog.me/morikawa/archives/1023072161.html |accessdate=2020-06-16|archive-date=June 16, 2020 }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1406/19/news057.html|title=「Line の通信内容を韓国政府が傍受」報道に Line 森川社長が反論 「そのような事実ない」|newspaper=ITmedia ニュース|publisher=ITmedia|date=2014-06-19|accessdate=2014-06-19}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1406/19/news133.html|title=Line、改めて傍受を否定 「暗号化後データは独自形式、解読は不能」|newspaper=ITmedia ニュース|publisher=ITmedia|date=2014-06-19|accessdate=2014-06-19}} (However, until the issue was exposed, passwords and messages were stored and transmitted in plaintext). In response, FACTA publisher Shigeo Abe countered the following day, stating that the article was based on solid evidence.{{Cite web|url=https://facta.co.jp/blog/archives/20140619001250.html|title=Line 森川亮社長の抗議について|publisher=阿部重夫発行人ブログ「最後から2番目の真実」|date=2014-06-20|accessdate=2014-06-20|archive-date=May 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524224355/https://facta.co.jp/blog/archives/20140619001250.html|url-status=dead}} At that time, the details supporting both sides’ claims had not been fully disclosed, leading to comments from third parties that there was insufficient evidence to make a clear judgment.{{Cite news|url=https://www.j-cast.com/2014/06/20208280.html|title=Line 傍受問題に片山さつき氏が参戦 関係省庁に事実関係の究明求める考え|newspaper=J-Cast|date=2014-06-20|accessdate=2014-06-20}} On March 25, 2021, a curious event occurred when Akira Morikawa’s blog post was deleted, but after it became a topic of discussion on social media and in the media, he re-published the article.{{Cite web |title=「Line の通信を韓国が傍受」への反論記事を Line 前社長が削除 理由は「差し控える」 |url=https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2103/30/news117.html |website=ITmedia News |access-date=2022-07-03}}{{Cite web |title=「Line の通信を韓国が傍受」への反論記事、一転して公開に 森川氏「逆に Lineに迷惑になる可能性ある」 |url=https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2103/31/news089.html |website=ITmedia News |access-date=2022-07-03}}

On September 23, 2014, the Presidential Office of the Republic of China announced that Line would be banned from use on government computers due to security concerns.{{Cite news|url=https://jp.reuters.com/article/taiwan-xiaomi-cybersecurity-idJPKCN0HJ0C120140924|title=台湾が中国スマホの小米科技調査、セキュリティー懸念で|newspaper=ロイター|date=2014-09-25|accessdate=2014-10-11}}

On March 17, 2021, it was reported that all user image and video data, as well as transaction information from Line Pay, were being stored on servers belonging to Line's parent company, Naver. Access permissions for this data were granted to employees of Line's South Korean subsidiary, Line Plus, for security check purposes. On the morning of March 17, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato stated at a press conference, "The relevant government agencies will confirm the facts and take appropriate action." Due to the current privacy policy not adequately communicating the situation to users, Line planned to review the policy and gradually transfer data to domestic servers in Japan starting mid-2021.[https://archive.today/20210317122834/https://linecorp.com/ja/pr/news/ja/2021/3675 Report on User Personal Information] – Line Corporation (March 17, 2021){{Cite web|title=Line "No unauthorized access or data leaks occurred" Announces details of management system at overseas locations|url=https://ampmedia.jp/2021/03/17/line0317/|website=AMP[アンプ] – Business Inspiration Media|date=2021-03-17|accessdate=2021-04-09|language=ja|publisher=A. M. P. News}}[https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASP3K43LJP3KULFA00Q.html Line Use "Appropriate Response" Says Kato, On Information Management Issue] – Asahi Shimbun Digital, March 17, 2021

Line's data centers are located in multiple countries around the world. User data is mainly divided into text messages, images, and videos. Member registration information, chat texts, Line IDs, phone numbers, email addresses, friend relationships, friend lists, location information, address books, Line Profile+ (including names and addresses), voice call histories (without recordings), and Line service payment histories are managed on servers within Japan, handled with internal data governance according to company standards. However, images, videos, Keep, albums, notes, timelines, and Line Pay transaction information are managed on servers in South Korea.{{Cite web|title=Line "No unauthorized access or data leaks occurred" Announces details of management system at overseas locations|url=https://ampmedia.jp/2021/03/17/line0317/|website=AMP[アンプ] – Business Inspiration Media|date=2021-03-17|accessdate=2021-04-08|language=ja}}

Only "text messages" and "one-on-one calls" are encrypted with Line's self-developed end-to-end encryption protocol, "Letter Sealing." Even if the data is accessed from the database, the contents of "text messages" and "one-on-one calls" cannot be viewed. "Letter Sealing" is enabled by default, but if the recipient disables this feature, it will not function, even if the sender has it enabled.{{Cite web|title=Help Center {{!}} Line|url=https://help.line.me/|website=help.line.me|accessdate=2021-04-19|language=ja-JP|quote=Message senders and recipients must both have "Letter Sealing" enabled for secure messaging. Letter Sealing encrypts the following contents in the chatroom: Text messages (except for messages sent via other services like CLOVA/YouTube/voice search) Location information 1:1 voice and video calls}} Text messages, images, and videos are encrypted along the communication route and sent to the server, regardless of the "Letter Sealing" setting. The image and video data are distributed across multiple servers for storage. The security team continuously monitors traffic to address any issues. The servers storing images and videos are planned to be gradually transferred to domestic servers in Japan from mid-2021.

Line Digital Technology (Shanghai) Limited, a subsidiary of Line Plus Corporation in Dalian, develops internal tools, AI features, and various functionalities available in the Line app. They also monitor servers, networks, and PC terminals under their jurisdiction for unauthorized access. During software development, the security team checks the source code and conducts security tests to prevent unauthorized programs from being included.

Naver China, a Chinese subsidiary of Naver Corporation that handles Line;s outsourcing work, is responsible for monitoring chat texts, Line official accounts, and timeline content for users outside Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia who have been "reported" by other users.

Line's domestic subsidiary, Line Fukuoka, and a major outsourcing company group in China monitor around 18,000 timeline posts and 74,000 open chat messages daily. Texts reported for spam or nuisance behavior in user chats between Japanese users are uploaded in plain text from user devices to servers and are monitored by Line Fukuoka.

Line is used by the Japanese government and local municipalities for providing administrative services and COVID-19 notifications.{{Cite web|title=Line's Personal Information Management Inadequate, Chinese Contractors Able to Access It|url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASP3J7K5DP3JUHBI03T.html|website=Asahi Shimbun|accessdate=2021-03-19|date=2021-03-17}} In response to the reports, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced on March 19 that it would temporarily suspend the use of Line services and request local governments to investigate their usage.[https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASP3K43LJP3KULFA00Q.html Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to Suspend Line Use, Request Investigations from Local Governments] – Sankei Shimbun On March 17, Fukuoka City confirmed with Line Fukuoka that personal information entered by citizens and chat content were not among the data accessible to Chinese contractors, and that the situation was not such that any access was possible. Therefore, the city decided to continue using the service for administrative purposes.{{Cite web|title=Fukuoka City Line Official Account|url=https://www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/shisei/kouhou-hodo/social/line.html|website=Fukuoka City|accessdate=2021-04-11|language=ja}} On March 25, Hyogo Prefecture confirmed with Line Corporation that no unauthorized access or data leaks had occurred and decided to continue using Line for COVID-19-related services.{{Cite web|title=Continuation of Services Using Line|url=https://web.pref.hyogo.lg.jp/press/20210325_001.html|website=Hyogo Prefecture|accessdate=2021-04-11|language=ja|last=Hyogo Prefecture}} Osaka City resumed services on Line that do not handle confidential information starting April 1.{{Cite web|title=Resumption of Services Using Line|url=https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/hodoshiryo/ictsenryakushitsu/0000532488.html|website=Osaka City|accessdate=2021-04-11|language=ja}}

On April 9, 2021, Akira Amari, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, stated that Line and its parent company Z Holdings had promised to implement measures such as adopting a cybersecurity system based on the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology SP800-171 level and limiting data management to countries with information protection rules equivalent to Japan's. The domestic transfer of user information is scheduled to be completed by 2024.{{Cite web|title="A company that does business in both America and Beijing will go bankrupt." Akira Amari on the "Post-Line Problem" and Chinese Business|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.jp/entry/story_jp_6067c654c5b66c4ab6b2b693|website=HuffPost|date=2021-04-09|accessdate=2021-04-11|language=ja}}{{Cite web|title=Line Data Transfer|url=https://linecorp.com/ja/data_transfer|website=Line Data Transfer|accessdate=2021-06-11|language=ja}}

Starting on March 31, 2021, the Personal Information Protection Commission conducted an on-site inspection of Line under Article 40, Section 1 of the Personal Information Protection Act. On April 23, the Commission issued administrative guidance regarding the issue where Chinese contractors were able to access Line's personal information management servers.{{Cite web|author=個人情報保護委員会|date=2021-04-23|url=https://www.ppc.go.jp/news/press/2021/210423kouhou/|title=個人情報の保護に関する法律に基づく行政上の対応について(Line 株式会社・令和3年4月23日）|publisher=個人情報保護委員会|accessdate=2021-10-22}} Additionally, starting March 26, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) provided written guidance to Line about safety management measures for its internal systems and appropriate explanations to users.{{Cite web|author=総務省|date=2021-04-26|url=https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000747273.pdf|title=Line E株式会社に対する指導|publisher=総務省|accessdate=2021-10-22}}{{cite news|title=個人情報保護委員会と総務省が Line に行政指導、不適切な個人情報の管理問題で|author=北川研斗|newspaper=ケータイ Watch|publisher=Impress |date=2021-04-26|url=https://k-tai.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1321222.html|accessdate=2021-10-22}}

On March 28, 2024, the Personal Information Protection Commission issued administrative guidance (recommendation) to Line Yahoo in response to a data breach involving 520,000 personal data records.{{Cite web |title=個人情報保護委員会が Line ヤフーに行政指導、個人データ52万件流出受け |url=https://xtech.nikkei.com/atcl/nxt/column/18/00001/09104/ |website=日経クロステック（xTECH） |date=2024-03-28 |access-date=2024-04-01 |language=ja |last=日経クロステック（xTECH）}} On April 1, 2024, Line Yahoo reported that it would gradually separate its systems from Naver, with full separation scheduled for December 2026.{{Cite web |title=韓国ネイバーと２６年末に接続分離＝Line ヤフー、総務省に報告 |url=https://sp.m.jiji.com/article/show/3202975 |website=時事通信ニュース |access-date=2024-04-01 |language=ja}} On April 16, 2024, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications conducted a rare second round of administrative guidance to Line Yahoo, criticizing insufficient measures to protect communication privacy and cybersecurity. They requested a review of the relationship with Naver.{{cite news |title=Line ヤフーに再び行政指導 ネイバーとの関係見直しなど具体策求める 「対応不十分だった」と松本総務相 |url=https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2404/16/news199.html}}{{cite news |title=Line ヤフー、異例の｢2度目の行政指導｣。脱 Naver を容易に選べぬソフトバンクの裏事情 |url=https://www.businessinsider.jp/post-285522}}

On October 18, 2021, a special committee formed by Z Holdings, the parent company of Line, released its final report. It criticized the fact that Chinese affiliates had access to personal information stored on Korean servers, stating that economic security concerns were not adequately considered and that the system lacked a proper review framework. The report noted that the Chinese government, under the National Intelligence Law enacted in 2017, could compel private companies to provide information, strengthening government control over data. The committee highlighted the insufficient measures taken by Line to handle government access to data (government surveillance).{{cite news|title=Line のデータ管理問題、特別委員会が最終報告書 「経済安全保障への対応が不十分だった」|author=松浦立樹|newspaper=ITmedia News|publisher=ITmedia|date=2021-10-19|url=https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2110/19/news194.html|accessdate=2021-10-20}}{{cite news|title=「経済安全保障へ配慮できず」 Line の情報アクセス問題で最終報告|author=臼田勤哉|newspaper=Impress Watch|publisher=インプレス|date=2021-10-18|url=https://www.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1359368.html|accessdate=2021-10-20}}{{cite news|title=Line 問題で調査委 最終報告書 "経済安全保障の責任者設置を"|newspaper=NHK NEWS WEB|publisher=日本放送協会|date=2021-10-18|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20211018/k10013312031000.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018070341/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20211018/k10013312031000.html |accessdate=2021-10-20|archive-date=October 18, 2021 }}

The report concluded that Line had misrepresented the situation by claiming that user data was stored exclusively in Japan, even though it was actually stored on servers in South Korea. The committee argued that this was due to Line's desire to maintain the image of the Line app as a domestic service and avoid openly acknowledging its ties to South Korea. Although Line's actions did not violate domestic law, the handling of personal data had caused a loss of trust. In response, Line issued a statement on October 18, acknowledging that its governance and risk management systems had not kept pace with its rapid growth. To prevent future incidents, the special committee recommended that Z Holdings establish an expert committee to consult third-party opinions and introduce a highly independent Data Protection Officer at major business units.

It was reported by Mainichi Shimbun that the Ministry of Finance and the Kanto Local Finance Bureau conducted an on-site inspection of Line's mobile game "Line Pop" due to suspected violations of the Funds Settlement Act regarding paid in-game items. In response to the report, Line issued a statement titled "Our Opinion Regarding Some of the Reported Content," immediately denying part of the allegations.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.jp/2016/04/05/line-mainichi_n_9621282.html|title=Line Denies Allegations About On-site Inspection, Says Paid Items Are Not Violating Laws|newspaper=HuffPost|date=2016-04-06}}

Line Games Temporarily Suspended from App Store for Violating App Store Guidelines

The Line Quick Game was temporarily removed from the Apple App Store after violations of the App Store's regulations, which included issues with the games "Line で発見!! たまごっち", "探検ドリランド ブレイブハンターズ", and "釣り★スタ Quick". A total of 8 titles were taken down for one month due to these violations.{{cite news|url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO37407700W8A101C1000000/|title=Line Games Suspended for One Month After Issues with Apple App Store Review|newspaper=The Nikkei|date=2018-11-06}}

On August 3, 2020, it was reported that a doctor registered in Line Healthcare, a paid service, had verbally abused a user, violating the service's terms of use. Line Healthcare issued an apology and announced measures to prevent recurrence on August 20, 2020.[https://archive.today/20201230145041/https://linehealthcarecorp.com/ja/pr/news/2020/4 Apology for Inappropriate Customer Interaction][https://archive.today/20210409153734/https://linehealthcarecorp.com/ja/pr/news/2020/5 Announcement Regarding Online Health Consultation Services][https://archive.today/20210409153856/https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2008/26/news114.html Doctor’s “Abuse” Causes Controversy, Line Healthcare Announces Recurrence Prevention Measures]

From April 12, 2018, to September 20, 2020, personal information entered into the refund application form for Line Game service terminations was exposed and accessible through the Internet Archive. The exposed information included bank account details, email addresses, and Line app identifiers of 18 individuals. After the issue was discovered, the archive was deleted.[https://archive.today/20201120093207/https://linecorp.com/ja/security/article/332 Personal Information Leak of Users Requesting Refunds in Line Game]

From April 17, 2014, the launch of Line Creators Market until October 31, 2020, files containing potentially sensitive personal information uploaded by Line Creators Market vendors were publicly accessible. The data, which was included in Internet Archive's collection, was available to the public. After the issue was identified, access to the files was blocked, and the data from the archive was deleted.[https://archive.today/20201120092117/https://linecorp.com/ja/security/article/348 「Line Creators Market」における個人情報漏えいのお知らせとお詫び – Line 株式会社]

Shukan Bunshun reported that employees of Line were posting fake messages (known as "Sakura posts") on its new service, Open Chat, impersonating ordinary users like high school girls or trendy women. The "Sakura posts" were not done solely by staff, but followed a manual called "Talk-room Operation" created by the head office. Line explained that these posts were made to improve the overall quality and user satisfaction of Open Chat and to create good quality chat rooms. They also stated that staff involvement in managing some chat rooms was intended to protect minor users. However, Shukan Bunshun reported that, according to insiders, these posts were aimed at creating a positive image to facilitate future monetization. Line avoided directly commenting on the article but acknowledged the problem, stating that it was an issue for users, as they were not informed that posts came from employees or that they were posting under false identities. The company updated the manual on April 12 and provided explanations to users on April 15.{{Cite web|title=Line Employees' "Sakura" Posts Are "True"; Company Will Revise Open Chat Operation|url=https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2104/23/news113.html|website=ITmedia News|accessdate=2021-05-03|language=ja}}

Between 2017 and 2021, during program updates to the LINE app, a bug caused incorrect messaging to be displayed in the report function. The erroneous message stated that by reporting a user, it would send "the reported user's information, including the latest 10 messages" when, in fact, it only intended to send "the reported user's information." This bug occurred on iOS from December 4, 2017, to March 30, 2021, on Android from August 20, 2018, to March 28, 2021, and on Desktop from March 4, 2021, to March 30, 2021. After confirming the error in late March 2021, the issue was fixed. The reported content was not used for commercial purposes like advertising but was intended solely for public benefit to protect users from harmful content.{{Cite web|title=Apology and Correction Regarding Incorrect Display of Reporting Function in Line App|url=https://linecorp.com/ja/pr/news/ja/2021/3725|website=Line Corporation|accessdate=2021-06-30}}

{{more citations needed section|date=April 2021}}

{{Main|Line Friends}}

File:LINE Friend Store in Hysan Place 201510.jpg, Hong Kong]]

Line Friends are featured characters that are shown in stickers of the application. They include Brown, Cony, Sally, James, Moon, Boss, Jessica, Edward, Leonard, Choco, Pangyo and Rangers. Two anime series, Line Offline and Line Town, were produced in 2013, picturing the Line Friends as employees for the fictional Line Corporation.

On-demand assistant for food and messenger delivery services in Bangkok.

{{main|Line TV}}

A video on demand service operating in Taiwan and Thailand.

There are physical stores in Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand, U.S. and a Korean online store to purchase Line Friends merchandise.{{cite web|url=http://store.linefriends.com/|title=Line Friends|website=store.linefriends.com}} Occasionally, Line will have pop-up or temporary stores globally.

{{Portal|Telecommunication|Technology}}

• Comparison of cross-platform instant messaging clients
• Comparison of instant messaging protocols
• Comparison of Internet Relay Chat clients
• Comparison of LAN messengers
• Comparison of VoIP software
• List of SIP software
• List of video telecommunication services and product brands

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Instant messaging}}

{{Mobile payments}}

{{LY Corporation}}

{{Naver}}

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Category:Symbian software

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