TikTok renews push to ease fears over European data security

LONDON — TikTok unveiled new measures Wednesday to guard European consumer knowledge because it takes steps to move off additional authorities bans on staff utilizing the Chinese language-owned video-sharing app on their work telephones.

The corporate goals to create “a safe enclave for European TikTok consumer knowledge,” Theo Bertram, vice chairman for European authorities relations and public coverage, stated in a weblog publish. TikTok will tighten entry to consumer knowledge in a course of overseen by outdoors auditors in addition to beef up privateness safety.

TikTok is below stress in Europe, the place it has 150 million customers, the U.S. and different nations that concern the app may pose dangers to cybersecurity and knowledge privateness. Western officers additionally fear that the Chinese language authorities may use father or mother firm ByteDance to push pro-Beijing narratives and misinformation.

The European Union’s government department, parliament and council have ordered employees to delete TikTok’s app from gadgets used for official enterprise, mirroring motion by U.S. states, the federal authorities, Denmark’s protection minstry and Canada.

A prime EU official additionally has warned TikTok’s CEO that the corporate should adjust to the bloc’s robust new rules for on-line platforms.

Bertram, the TikTok vice chairman, supplied extra particulars Wednesday on plans to localize knowledge storage with servers primarily based in Europe, the place there are stringent guidelines on defending consumer data. The brand new knowledge facilities will probably be operated by third-party service suppliers, which weren’t recognized.

The tactic is much like TikTok’s method in 2020 when it teamed up with database software program firm Oracle to keep away from a U.S. ban from then-President Donald Trump’s administration.

TikTok will arrange a second knowledge middle in Dublin and a 3rd one in Norway’s Hamar area, Bertram stated. The corporate beforehand introduced that it will open its first European knowledge middle in Eire and stated final month that it was including two extra, with out offering particulars.

Within the U.S., TikTok routes all knowledge to servers managed by Oracle, although it is also storing backups by itself servers within the U.S. and Singapore. The corporate has stated it expects to delete U.S. consumer knowledge from its personal servers however hasn’t specified when.

The brand new measures embrace “safety gateways” so as to add an additional layer of management, figuring out whether or not firm staff can entry knowledge on European TikTok customers and whether or not the information will be transferred outdoors of Europe. A European safety firm will probably be appointed to audit the method, Bertram stated.

To enhance privateness, the corporate will work with third events, which it didn’t establish, to make use of know-how that can make it more durable to establish individuals from private knowledge.

CEO Shou Zi Chew is ready to testify subsequent month earlier than Congress, the place U.S. lawmakers will grill him on privateness and data-security practices in addition to TikTok’s relationship with the Chinese language authorities.