The facility will be built in Lahti, southern Finland, with an initial capacity of 50 megawatts and the potential to scale up to 128 MW. The move comes less than a year after the company revealed plans for its first Finnish data centre, underscoring an accelerated expansion strategy across Europe.
Owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, TikTok said the investment forms part of its broader €12 billion European data sovereignty initiative, aimed at strengthening protections for more than 200 million users across the continent. The push reflects mounting scrutiny from regulators over how social media companies handle personal data and safeguard users, particularly children, from algorithm-driven risks.
The announcement follows a period of regulatory pressure for TikTok. Earlier this year, ByteDance narrowly avoided a potential ban in the United States tied to concerns over data security and user privacy, while European governments have continued tightening oversight of major digital platforms.
Finland has increasingly attracted global tech firms seeking energy-efficient data infrastructure. Companies such as Microsoft and Google have also expanded their data centre footprint in the country, drawn by its cold climate, relatively low-cost renewable energy, and stable regulatory framework within the European Union.
Despite these advantages, TikTok’s expansion has not been without controversy. Finnish officials previously raised concerns about transparency and national security implications tied to the company’s first data centre project in Kouvola. Wille Rydman, Finland’s former minister of economic affairs, publicly urged reconsideration of the development, citing limited disclosure around the project.
TikTok maintains that European user data is already stored under enhanced protections across facilities in Norway and Ireland, alongside limited storage in the United States. The Kouvola data centre is expected to become operational by the end of 2026, while the newly announced Lahti site is projected to come online by 2027.
Local officials have welcomed the investment, highlighting its economic significance. Lahti’s mayor described the project as substantial for the region, noting that agreements with key partners are already in place and development is proceeding as planned.
The expansion signals TikTok’s intent to strengthen its infrastructure footprint in Europe amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny and rising demand for data localisation.