TikTok reveals plans to open an enormous data centre in Norway in a bid to combat European privacy concerns

• TikTok has revealed plans to open an enormous data centre in Norway
• It hopes this will address concerns the Chinese government can access data 

In a bid to combat concerns over European privacy, TikTok has revealed plans to open an enormous data centre in Norway. 

The social media company has taken possession of a facility in the Hamar region, which will become its largest data centre in Europe.

The company, owned by China-headquartered Bytedance, has been trying to address concerns over whether the Chinese government could access the data of European citizens who use TikTok.

‘We understand the skepticism,’ said Theo Bertram, TikTok’s VP of government relations and public policy.

‘And that’s precisely why we’re not just doing the step of putting the data in Europe, building that digital barrier around it.’

In a bid to combat concerns over European privacy, TikTok has revealed plans to open an enormous data centre in Norway

TikTok, owned by China-headquartered Bytedance, has been trying to address concerns over whether the Chinese government could access the data of European citizens who use TikTok

Could TikTok be banned in the UK? 

TikTok has been restricted for Parliamentary devices and devices that connect to the Westminster WiFi.

However, it is extremely unlikely that the app will be banned more widely.

Michelle Donelan, science secretary, has said that there is no evidence to suggest a wider ban is necessary.

Even government officials are not banned from having the app on their personal phones. 

According to TikTok, over 150 million people across Europe use TikTok every month. 

This scale ‘comes with responsibility’, according to the tech giant. 

‘We want people on TikTok to be confident that they can trust us with their data,’ Mr Bertram explained. 

Several European countries including Italy, Norway, and The Netherlands have raised concerns about the security and safety of the app. 

Back in March, Italy’s antitrust authority opened an investigation into the app as it allegedly breaches its rules by allowing the publication of ‘dangerous content’ inciting suicide, self-harm and poor nutrition.

Meanwhile, both the Dutch and British governments have banned central government employees from having the app installed on their phones. 

Norway’s justice minister, whose active TikTok use has previously landed her in hot water, also recommended that her country’s government employees refrain from using the Chinese app on their work devices. 

TikTok has announced a 12 billion euro investment over the next 10 years, as it officially takes possesion of the data centre in Norway

‘The first of three separate buildings at the site was handed over this week; each of these buildings will ultimately store European TikTok user data,’ Mr Bertram explained

To combat these fears, TikTok announced Project Clover back in March, which aims to build data centres and store European user data locally.

Now, it has announced a 12 billion euro investment over the next 10 years, as it officially takes possesion of the data centre in Norway.  

‘The first of three separate buildings at the site was handed over this week; each of these buildings will ultimately store European TikTok user data,’ Mr Bertram explained.

TikTok will now begin installing and testing servers in the first building, with the goal of commencing user data migration by next summer. 

When completed, this will be the largest data centre in Europe, according to TikTok

The app hopes that the new data centre will not only help to combat concerns about user privacy, but will also help achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030

Meanwhile, the other two buildings are expected to be handed over during the second half of next year, with data migration to these scheduled to begin towards the end of 2024. 

When completed, this will be the largest data centre in Europe, according to TikTok. 

The app hopes that the new data centre will not only help to combat concerns about user privacy, but will also help achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. 

Once it is fully  operational, the Norway data centre will run on 100 per cent renewable energy.

‘Most of the energy generated will be transformed to low temperature heat (25C), effectively enabling the energy to be used twice,’ Mr Bertram said. 

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