TikTok Builds Second Data Center in Finland Worth Rp19 Trillion, Focuses on Protecting Data of 200 Million European Users
JAKARTA - TikTok is accelerating its infrastructure expansion in Europe with a new investment plan worth 1 billion euros or around Rp19.8 trillion to build a second data center in Finland. This step confirms the company's strategy of moving European user data storage into the EU region amid increasingly stringent regulatory pressures.
The ByteDance-owned company confirmed that the new facility will be built in Lahti, southern Finland, with an initial capacity of 50 megawatts (MW) and the potential for expansion to 128 MW. The project is targeted to be an important part of TikTok's 12 billion euro large-scale initiative to strengthen data sovereignty in Europe.
"This investment is part of the 'European data sovereignty initiative' worth 12 billion euros that provides industry-level protection for more than 200 million European users," TikTok said in a statement.
This aggressive move comes just months after ByteDance managed to avoid a ban threat in the United States in January 2026, which was previously triggered by concerns regarding user data protection. At the same time, European countries are also increasing pressure on social media platforms to control algorithms that are considered addictive, especially for children.
Finland itself is now emerging as a new "paradise" for global data centers. The combination of cold climate, low and environmentally friendly electricity costs, and stable EU regulations makes this Nordic country attractive to technology giants such as Microsoft and Google.
However, TikTok's expansion has not been entirely smooth. The plan to build the first data center in Finland had previously sparked political concerns. A number of officials considered the project to be less transparent and potentially pose security risks.
Former Minister of Economic Affairs of Finland, Wille Rydman, even asked that the project be reviewed. "At least I hope that property developers will reconsider whether they really want to make TikTok a tenant," he told the public media Yle.
Currently, TikTok says European user data is stored with additional protection in data centers spread across Norway, Ireland, and the United States. Meanwhile, the first facility in Kouvola is scheduled to begin operating by the end of 2026, with the second data center in Lahti targeted for completion in 2027.
On the other hand, the local government welcomed this investment with optimism. Lahti Mayor Niko Kyynarainen called the project a big step for the local economy.
"In the context of Lahti, this investment is very significant. We are pleased that the agreement with the main tenant has been signed and the project is progressing according to plan," he said.
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