Have 125 Million Users, TikTok Will Build Two Data Centers Again In Europe
JAKARTA - In the midst of frequent suspicion of accessing user data, TikTok plans to build two more data centers in Europe.
According to general manager of TikTok for operations in Europe, Rich Waterworth in a blog post, the move is expected to ease concerns over user data security and reduce regulatory pressure on the company.
TikTok is currently trying to reassure governments and regulators both in Europe and in the United States (US) that users' personal data is inaccessible and its content cannot be manipulated by the Chinese Communist Party or anyone under Beijing's influence.
"We are in the final stages of finalizing plans for a second data center in Ireland with third-party service providers, in addition to the website announced last year," Waterworth said.
ByteDance's China-based social media is also in talks to set up a third European data center, without specifying a location.
"We are also in talks to set up a third data center in Europe to further complement our operational plans in Ireland. European TikTok users' data will start migrating this year, continuing until 2024," Waterworth said.
TikTok is very popular with young people, but its holdings in China have raised concerns its government could use it to collect data on Western users or encourage pro-China false narratives and information.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi law last month was warned by the European Union's top relatives, where the company must comply with new digital rules from the country's 27 bloc.
The Digital Services Act (DSA) mandates online platforms and technology companies with 45 million or more users must take extra steps aimed at cleaning up illegal content and disinformation or potentially facing billions of fines.
The European Commission requires online platforms and search engines until February 17 to publish their monthly number of active users.
A very large online platform has four months to comply with regulations, or risk a fine.
TikTok reported on Friday that it has 125 million monthly active users in the European Union, placing it above the threshold of extra scrutiny under new rules that will take effect later this year.
In non-EU countries such as the UK and Switzerland, TikTok has 150 million users. Meta also reports the number of social media users, such as Facebook, 255 million monthly active users, Instagram has 250 million users.
Twitter says it has 100.9 million users, including registered users and those who are not signed in, as quoted by ABC News, Saturday, February 18.
Apple says the iOS App Store has more than 45 million users but does not provide specific figures. Google says its Search search engine has 332 million incoming users, while YouTube has 401.7 million incoming users.