Social media giant TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, has announced the layoff of hundreds of employees from its global workforce as it moves towards greater reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) for content moderation.
The job cuts, which have impacted a significant number of employees in Malaysia, are part of the company’s broader strategy to enhance the efficiency of its content moderation processes through AI technology.
Initial reports suggested that over 700 employees in Malaysia had been let go, but TikTok later clarified that fewer than 500 employees were affected in the country.
According to sources close to the situation, most of those laid off were involved in content moderation roles. The employees were notified of their dismissal via email late on Wednesday. These sources spoke to Reuters under the condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak to the media.
TikTok confirmed the layoffs, explaining that the move was part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at optimizing its global content moderation operations. The company expects the shift to AI-powered moderation tools to increase efficiency and streamline its ability to detect and remove harmful content. TikTok currently uses a combination of automated detection systems and human moderators to oversee the vast amounts of content shared on the platform.
In a statement provided to Reuters, a TikTok spokesperson explained, “We’re making these changes as part of our ongoing efforts to further strengthen our global operating model for content moderation.”
The company noted that this shift is part of a wider plan to improve moderation practices and increase reliance on automation, which has already resulted in 80% of guideline-violating content being removed by AI technologies.
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The layoffs are not limited to Malaysia but span TikTok’s global operations. Hundreds of employees across multiple regions have been affected as the company implements these changes. The total number of job losses globally has not been disclosed, but TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, employs over 110,000 people across more than 200 cities worldwide, according to its website.
Sources also revealed that TikTok is expected to carry out more retrenchments in the coming months, as part of its effort to consolidate regional operations and further streamline its workforce. This suggests that the restructuring process is far from over, with more employees potentially at risk of losing their jobs.
The timing of the layoffs comes amid increased regulatory pressure on social media companies in Malaysia. The Malaysian government recently announced that all social media platforms must apply for an operating license by January 2024 as part of a broader effort to combat cyber offenses. Malaysia has seen a sharp rise in harmful online content this year, prompting calls for stricter monitoring and content moderation by companies like TikTok.
In response to the growing challenges of content moderation, TikTok has pledged to invest $2 billion globally in trust and safety initiatives throughout 2024. The company remains committed to improving its moderation processes while balancing automation with human oversight.
Despite the layoffs, TikTok aims to ensure that its platform remains a safe space for users worldwide, with the goal of keeping harmful content at bay through cutting-edge AI technologies.
The job cuts were first reported by the Malaysian business portal The Malaysian Reserve on Thursday, sparking discussions about the future of content moderation roles in the digital industry. As AI continues to transform the way social media platforms operate, many companies are increasingly turning to automation to manage the growing volume of content and ensure compliance with global regulations.
For TikTok, the challenge will be to balance AI advancements with the need for human moderators, especially as regulatory scrutiny intensifies in regions like Malaysia. The social media giant’s investment in AI-driven moderation is part of a larger trend in the tech industry, where companies are looking to innovate while minimizing costs. However, as the layoffs show, this shift comes with significant consequences for the workforce.
The coming months will be critical for TikTok as it continues to restructure its operations and navigate the challenges posed by both regulatory requirements and content moderation demands. While AI promises increased efficiency, the role of human moderators will still be essential in tackling nuanced and complex issues that require human judgment. Whether TikTok’s strategy proves successful in the long run remains to be seen, but for now, the company is betting on AI to help maintain a safe and compliant platform.