The Clover project, or how TikTok intends to store your data in a European enclave

TikTok wants to show its credentials and open two new data centers in Ireland and Norway to strengthen data protection for its European users.

The now essential short video application TikTok, owned by the Chinese giant ByteDance, knows that it is in trouble in the United States, where its ban is discussed. In Europe, the platform has often been criticized, but it multiplies the gestures to gain credibility and thus reassure the authorities and users. Regarding the personal data of the latter precisely, TikTok, which currently has 150 million monthly users on the Old Continent, has just made a very important announcement.

Comply with applicable European data protection laws and regulations

TikTok has indeed unveiled this Wednesday, March 8, the outlines of its “Clover project”, an initiative oriented towards the storage and security of the data of its European users. The idea? Create a ” secure European enclave for its users’ data in the UK and across the European Economic Area “.

The company intends to introduce security gateways that will regulate both employee access to application user data in Europe and the United Kingdom, but also their transfer, a thorny issue dear to the European Commission.

” All data access will not only comply with applicable data protection laws, but must also pass through these additional security gateways and controls. “, commits TikTok. But the firm wants to go further and be transparent. She promises to choose a European third party who will be responsible for overseeing data protection, controlling data flows and carrying out independent checks, in addition to reporting any potential incidents. The name of this partner has not yet filtered, but TikTok is also committed to working more on the “pseudonymization” of personal data.

European TikTok user data will soon be stored by default in Europe

As far as data storage is concerned, TikTok has already recently opened its very first data center on European soil, in Dublin. The announcement of the construction of a second, then a third data center, which was in the air, was officially confirmed by TikTok on March 8. The second data center of the firm will also be installed in Dublin, and the third in Norway, in the region of Hamar.

This last site was not chosen at random, since it will be powered by 100% renewable energy, thanks to local hydroelectricity. It will recycle excess heat and make it available to activities in the region. In addition, it benefits from a cooler climate, which will allow the use of more natural cooling, improving its energy efficiency.

TikTok has started storing its European users’ data in Ireland, with a process that will continue until 2024. Once completed, the three data centers will become the default storage location for users.