TikTok has announced plans to lay off hundreds of staff in the UK who are responsible for content moderation on its platform. The company stated that it intends to relocate these roles to other European offices as part of an investment in artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance its moderation capabilities.
A spokesperson for TikTok explained that this move is part of a broader reorganization aimed at improving its global operating model for Trust and Safety. This includes consolidating operations into fewer locations worldwide. However, representatives from the Communication Workers Union (CWU) have criticized the decision, arguing it prioritizes corporate interests over worker and public safety. They emphasized concerns that replacing human moderators with unproven AI solutions could have significant impacts.
CWU National Officer for Tech, John Chadfield, highlighted that employees have raised alarm about the consequences of reducing human moderation teams. He also noted that the layoffs were announced just as staff were preparing to vote on union recognition. In response, TikTok maintained that the changes are designed to increase efficiency while leveraging technological advancements.
The layoffs affect workers in TikTok’s Trust and Safety team in London, as well as hundreds of additional employees in Asia. TikTok reported that its automated moderation systems, including AI technology, address around 85% of posts violating rules before they reach human moderators. This approach aims to lessen human exposure to distressing content.
The layoffs come during a period of increased regulatory scrutiny in the UK, following the implementation of the Online Safety Act in July, which imposes severe fines for non-compliance. In addition to the layoffs, TikTok has introduced new parental controls and continues to face investigations regarding its content moderation practices and user safety.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgjyp48dp21o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss