JAPAN GOV’T DUMPS LINE APP AS CHINA FIRM COLLECTS PERSONAL DATA

After revelations that personal data of users of the free messaging app Line were accessed by its Chinese affiliate sent shockwaves across Japan, the national government and local authorities junked the popular app, which has grown to be a de-facto social infrastructure in the country, Tatsuya Michinaga, Tsuyoshi Goto and Yusuke Matsukura reported for Mainichi Shimbun.

In a bid to eliminate risks posed by China over information management, Line Corp. has completely blocked access from China and company president Takeshi Idezawa apologized. The firm was also forced to make a policy turnaround to relocate image and other data stored in South Korea to Japan.

At a press conference on March 23, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Norihisa Tamura said "we have been using Line for sending out information about suicide prevention measures, as well as for monitoring the health of people entering Japan from overseas, among other purposes. We will stop using Line as long as there are no problems with alternative measures." He revealed that the government has already switched to email for some of its services.

After Line's data breach came to light on March 17, the issue has caused wide repercussions throughout the government.

Minister of State for Disaster Management Hachiro Okonogi said on March 23 that the Cabinet Office's official Line account for providing disaster prevention information would be "suspended until concerns over information management have been dispelled."

Numerous local governments are also suspending their use of Line. The Osaka Prefectural Government issued a notice instructing its departments to stop using Line in projects dealing with personal information.

In response, consultation services via Line for elementary, junior high and senior high school students offered every Monday were suddenly halted on March 22.

The move came as the content of consultations is related to bullying and other trouble at schools and involves personal information. "As special caution is needed at the beginning of the academic year when the environment (for children) changes, we'd like to continue offering consultations via the phone and email, among other means," said an official in charge of the service.

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