Globally popular short-video platform TikTok announced that its first European data center is fully operational. The move is seen as the platform's attempt to address data privacy concerns linked to its Chinese roots.
The data center is located in Dublin, Ireland, where a second site is underway. Another hub is also being constructed in Norway.
TikTok's Vice President of Public Policy in Europe, Theo Bertram, emphasized the importance of this step, stating it would establish a "specially reinforced protective environment around our European user data."
The new hubs will manage data from TikTok users across the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. Previously, TikTok's vast user data was stored on servers in the United States and Singapore.
Despite its immense popularity, TikTok has faced numerous regulatory challenges. For example, President Joe Biden directed federal workers to uninstall TikTok from their devices in March.
The European Union followed suit, ordering members from the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the European Council to remove the app from government-issued devices.
Other nations, including Canada, France, the Netherlands, the UK, and New Zealand, have also imposed similar federal bans.
TikTok is a subsidiary of ByteDance, a major internet entity headquartered in Beijing. Chinese legislation mandates companies operating within its borders to provide data access if necessary for national security.
Addressing these concerns, TikTok has consistently asserted that data stored outside China remains beyond Beijing's regulations and is completely safe.
TikTok has over 1 billion users globally. The platform has gained immense popularity not only for content creation but also as a leading platform for influencer marketing.
Furthermore, brands and businesses worldwide are increasingly integrating TikTok into their social media marketing strategies.
Edited by Nikola Djuric
