TikTok slashes hundreds of jobs in AI shift
Social media giant TikTok has announced plans to reduce its global workforce by several hundred jobs as part of a strategic move to expand AI-driven content moderation efforts. The cuts are expected to affect a significant number of employees in Malaysia, where the company has a substantial presence.
Owned by the Chinese tech firm ByteDance, TikTok confirmed on Friday that it would implement layoffs across various regions, although it did not provide specific details on the countries impacted. In Malaysia, fewer than 500 jobs are expected to be affected by the restructuring.
A TikTok spokesperson indicated that the job cuts align with the company’s ongoing investment in automated content moderation. “We expect to invest $2 billion globally in trust and safety in 2024 alone and are continuing to improve the efficacy of our efforts, with 80% of violative content now removed by automated technologies,” the spokesperson said.
The company employs a combination of human moderators and automated systems to filter content and uphold community guidelines. ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, reportedly employs over 110,000 staff in more than 200 cities worldwide.
These layoffs follow a period of speculation about significant operational changes at TikTok, especially as tech firms face increased regulatory scrutiny. In Malaysia, government officials have urged social media companies to address rising concerns over cybercrimes, including online fraud, cyberbullying, and sexual crimes against children. To combat these issues, Malaysia has asked social media platforms to apply for operating licenses within the country.
The job cuts come as TikTok faces regulatory pressures in several regions, with authorities in the United States and other countries scrutinising the app over data privacy and content moderation practices.
Written by Sakinat Musa Abubakar, Editor at Neptune Prime
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