Is LINE Safe to Use in 2026?
LINE is a messaging and social platform widely used in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia. The app offers end-to-end encryption for one-on-one messages through its Letter Sealing feature, but group chats and other communications have historically had weaker protections. LINE faced a major data access scandal when it was revealed that a subsidiary in China could access user data, prompting a restructuring of data handling practices. The platform collects usage data for advertising and integrates with LINE Pay, news, shopping, and other services that expand the data collection scope. LINE earns a caution rating due to past data handling controversies, advertising-based data collection, and the expanding super-app model that increases data collection breadth.
What LINE Collects
- Message metadata, contact lists, and content of communications not protected by Letter Sealing encryption
- Usage patterns across LINE suite of services including payments, news, shopping, and entertainment
- Device information, location data, browsing behavior, and advertising identifiers for targeted ad delivery
- Sticker purchase history, timeline posts, and social interaction patterns across the LINE ecosystem
Who Sees Your Data
- LY Corporation (formerly LINE Corp and Z Holdings), the parent company operating the LINE ecosystem of services
- Advertising partners who receive behavioral targeting data for delivering ads within LINE and across partner networks
- SoftBank Group and affiliated companies that may receive data through the corporate parent structure
Data Access Controversy
In 2021, it was revealed that engineers at a LINE subsidiary in China had access to Japanese user data including names, phone numbers, and message content. This revelation caused a major scandal in Japan and prompted government investigations. LINE acknowledged that Chinese engineers could access user data for system maintenance purposes. The incident led to restructuring data handling practices, moving data storage to Japanese servers, and restricting international access. However, the fact that this access existed without public knowledge undermined trust in LINE data handling transparency. The incident highlighted risks that arise when multinational technology companies process data across jurisdictions with different legal protections.
Letter Sealing Encryption
LINE offers end-to-end encryption through its Letter Sealing feature for one-on-one messages. When enabled, messages are encrypted so that only the sender and recipient can read them. However, Letter Sealing has not always been enabled by default for all communication types, and group chats have historically lacked the same encryption protection. The encryption implementation is proprietary rather than based on a widely audited open protocol. LINE has published technical documentation about Letter Sealing, but it has not received the same level of independent security auditing as the Signal Protocol. Users should verify that Letter Sealing is active and understand its limitations for group communications.
Super-App Expansion
LINE has evolved from a messaging app into a super-app platform offering payments, news, music, shopping, and various daily services. This expansion mirrors the WeChat model and increases the breadth of data LINE collects about users. Each additional service generates new data categories including financial transactions, media consumption, and consumer behavior. The integration of services under a single platform creates convenience but also builds a comprehensive behavioral profile that spans communication, finance, entertainment, and commerce. As LINE continues adding services, the data collection scope will continue expanding beyond the original messaging functionality.
Recommended Privacy Settings
| Setting | Where | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Letter Sealing | Settings > Privacy > Letter Sealing | Verify that Letter Sealing encryption is enabled for one-on-one messages to protect message content |
| Ad Targeting | Settings > Privacy > Ads > Opt-out of targeted ads | Disable targeted advertising to reduce behavioral tracking across the LINE ecosystem |
| Allow Message Requests | Settings > Privacy > Allow Message Requests | Restrict message requests from non-friends to reduce spam and unsolicited contact exposure |
Safer Alternatives
Our Verdict
LINE earns a caution rating due to the historical data access controversy with Chinese subsidiaries, proprietary encryption with less independent auditing than the Signal Protocol, and the expanding super-app model that broadens data collection across communications, payments, and commerce. While LINE has improved its data handling practices following the 2021 scandal, the incident demonstrated inadequate data governance that undermined user trust. If you use LINE, verify Letter Sealing encryption is active, limit permissions for additional services, and avoid sharing sensitive information. For privacy-focused messaging, Signal provides stronger verified encryption without the advertising and super-app data collection concerns.
Related Safety Checks
Frequently Asked Questions
Are LINE messages encrypted end-to-end?
One-on-one messages can be encrypted end-to-end using LINE Letter Sealing feature. However, this encryption uses a proprietary protocol rather than the widely audited Signal Protocol. Group chats have historically had weaker encryption protections. Users should check their settings to confirm Letter Sealing is active. Even with Letter Sealing enabled, metadata about who you communicate with and when is still collected by LINE. For groups and other communication types, the level of encryption protection varies and may not prevent LINE from accessing content. Verify your specific settings rather than assuming all communications are encrypted.
Did Chinese engineers really access Japanese user data?
Yes, LINE confirmed in 2021 that engineers at a subsidiary in China had access to Japanese user data through internal systems used for development and maintenance purposes. The access included names, phone numbers, and message content. LINE acknowledged this access had existed for years without public disclosure. The company subsequently restructured its data handling to move Japanese user data to domestic servers and restrict international access. The incident prompted Japanese government investigations and a broader review of data handling practices. This confirmed that data localization and access controls were not adequately implemented despite the privacy expectations of Japanese users.
How does LINE compare to WhatsApp for privacy?
Both LINE and WhatsApp offer end-to-end encryption for messages, but with important differences. WhatsApp uses the widely audited Signal Protocol and encrypts all messages by default. LINE uses a proprietary Letter Sealing protocol with less independent scrutiny. WhatsApp shares metadata with Meta for advertising, while LINE shares data with LY Corporation and SoftBank affiliates for similar purposes. WhatsApp has a larger global user base while LINE dominates in East and Southeast Asia. Neither platform is ideal for privacy. For genuinely private messaging, Signal surpasses both with stronger encryption, less metadata collection, and a nonprofit structure.