TikTok has announced plans to invest €1 billion ($1.16 billion) in a second data centre in Finland, marking a significant expansion of its European data infrastructure. The new facility will be located in Lahti, southern Finland, with an initial capacity of 50 megawatts, scalable up to 128 megawatts, as part of the company’s broader €12 billion European data sovereignty initiative.
The expansion aims to strengthen data protection for over 200 million European users and respond to mounting scrutiny over data privacy and security concerns. Owned by ByteDance, TikTok has faced global regulatory pressures to ensure local control of user information and compliance with privacy laws.
Finland has become a preferred location for data centres, attracting major tech firms like Microsoft and Google due to its cool climate, access to low-cost renewable energy, and stable regulatory environment. However, the move has sparked debate. Plans for TikTok’s first Finnish data centre in Kouvola faced criticism from local politicians, including Wille Rydman, over concerns of transparency and security.
Currently, TikTok stores European user data across facilities in Norway, Ireland, and the United States, with added safeguards. The Kouvola centre is expected to be operational by the end of this year, while the new Lahti facility is scheduled for 2027.
The investment underscores TikTok’s efforts to meet regulatory demands, expand infrastructure, and reassure European authorities and users amid growing emphasis on data sovereignty and compliance.
Erizia Rubyjeana
Follow us on:
