TikTok logo is seen outside the Chinese video app company’s Los Angeles offices in Culver City, California. Photo: Robyn Beck / AFP / Lehtikuva
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TikTok has confirmed that its planned data centre in Kouvola will serve only as a storage facility for European user data and will not be used for artificial intelligence operations.
The company’s Christian Hannibal, head of public policy in Finland, told Yle that the Kouvola site forms part of TikTok’s €12 billion Project Clover initiative. The programme aims to process and store user data within European borders, with additional centres located in Ireland and Norway. The Kouvola centre alone accounts for €1 billion of the total investment.
“We have high expectations for this investment,” Hannibal said, reaffirming TikTok’s commitment to the project despite criticism over the company’s Chinese origins.
Hannibal stressed that high-performance chips required for AI processing would not be installed at the site. “We emphasise that this data centre, like our others in Europe, is strictly for storing European user data, not for running AI systems,” he said.
The clarification comes in response to comments by Wille Rydman, Finland’s Minister of Economic Affairs, who warned that the facility could be used to sidestep US technology export restrictions. Rydman expressed concern about a lack of early notification to Finnish authorities, saying the government was formally informed only after the lease agreement was signed.
TikTok confirmed that it had spoken with the Ministry of Economic Affairs following the lease signing. Hannibal said the company is prepared to maintain open dialogue with Finnish officials. “We are very happy to continue the dialogue with the Ministry of Economic Affairs,” he said.
Lulu Ranne, Minister of Transport and Communications, has also raised security questions. Finland’s national security agency Supo has warned that TikTok data could be accessible to Chinese authorities. TikTok, which was founded by Chinese entrepreneurs, faces continuing scrutiny over its corporate structure and data practices.
To address these issues, the company is partnering with a third-party cybersecurity firm to monitor data handling at its European data centres. TikTok says this external oversight will ensure that user information is processed securely and in line with European regulations.
Despite the scrutiny, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo dismissed the idea that the Kouvola project poses a national security threat. He stated that he is not aware of any legal grounds that would block the development of the centre.
The data centre is being constructed in Kouvola’s Koria district. TikTok says the facility will employ around 200 people once operational. Previous estimates in Finland projected several hundred jobs, and the final number may depend on local hiring capacity.
“We don’t yet know the extent of the skills available in the Kouvola area, but we aim to hire locally,” Hannibal said.
According to Yle’s investigative unit, the company managing the Kouvola site has significant Chinese ownership. Huang Wei, a Chinese businessman, is reported to hold nearly 40 percent of the company’s shares.
Hannibal said TikTok selected Finland for its infrastructure, stable climate, and diverse energy
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
