• jmcs@discuss.tchncs.de
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        7 months ago

        Because their algorithms have a clear negative impact on Europeans mental health and are contributing to the deterioration of democracy? Or because they are thinly veiled front for Chinese intelligence services?

        • misk@sopuli.xyzOP
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          7 months ago

          Yes, those could be harmful. How does location of the data center change that? If anything, it’s better to have it in EEA for better oversight, no?

          • jmcs@discuss.tchncs.de
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            7 months ago

            The data is already processed in Europe, that doesn’t change. The fact that they are getting marching orders from the CCP also doesn’t. And even if they were Europeans what they are doing should be a crime.

            • misk@sopuli.xyzOP
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              7 months ago

              Okay, so no change in terms of legality of the enterprise. Personally I’m in favor of regulating Youtube and Tiktok to the point that they’re truly socially responsible and only slightly profitable but that’s mostly irrelevant to data center location discussion.

              In terms of benefits of investing in data center in Norway I could list:

              • using renewable energy sources in a location that’s very good at those
              • staying at regulators arms length
              • jobs

              So I think this is good news.

              • jmcs@discuss.tchncs.de
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                7 months ago

                Letting people build a Heroin-Cyanide candy factory would also bring jobs, I still think it should be illegal.

                • misk@sopuli.xyzOP
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                  7 months ago

                  That’s a fair point but it would require outlawing YouTube too.

        • misk@sopuli.xyzOP
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          7 months ago

          That’s not really an answer. Let me rephrase just in case.

          If this data center was to be located outside of EEA, what would be the benefit to Europeans or ByteDance?

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    7 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    TikTok says it will spend €12 billion as part of an ongoing push to ingratiate itself with European regulators, with the company beginning work on its previously announced Norwegian data center.

    The short-form social video company has been working hard these past few years to convince the world that it’s not beholden to its parent company ByteDance in China, efforts not helped by revelations last year that China-based employees could access data for users in Europe and the U.S.

    However, TikTok has made a swathe of commitments that strive to address concerns over its data-harnessing practices in light of Europe’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

    The company’s promised €12 billion investment spans the next 10 years, and includes funding not only for three data centers, but ongoing work with a third-party security company called NCC Group which it previously announced would carry out audits on its data controls and practices.

    It also revealed plans for a second data center in Ireland, plus a third in the Hamar region of Norway — one that will apparently run on 100% renewable energy.

    According to TikTok, it has now taken possession of the first of three buildings at the site, and it will begin installing servers with a view toward migrating European users’ data from next summer.


    The original article contains 277 words, the summary contains 211 words. Saved 24%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!