Because their algorithms have a clear negative impact on Europeans mental health and are contributing to the deterioration of democracy? Or because they are thinly veiled front for Chinese intelligence services?
TikTok says it will spend €12 billion as part of an ongoing push to ingratiate itself with European regulators, with the company beginning work on its previously announced Norwegian data center.
The short-form social video company has been working hard these past few years to convince the world that it’s not beholden to its parent company ByteDance in China, efforts not helped by revelations last year that China-based employees could access data for users in Europe and the U.S.
However, TikTok has made a swathe of commitments that strive to address concerns over its data-harnessing practices in light of Europe’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
The company’s promised €12 billion investment spans the next 10 years, and includes funding not only for three data centers, but ongoing work with a third-party security company called NCC Group which it previously announced would carry out audits on its data controls and practices.
It also revealed plans for a second data center in Ireland, plus a third in the Hamar region of Norway — one that will apparently run on 100% renewable energy.
According to TikTok, it has now taken possession of the first of three buildings at the site, and it will begin installing servers with a view toward migrating European users’ data from next summer.
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