TikTok to lay off hundreds of UK content moderators

TikTok will lay off hundreds of UK content moderators, relocating their roles to other European offices and increasing reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) for content review.

A TikTok spokesperson said the move continues a reorganisation started last year to strengthen the company's global Trust and Safety operations by focusing in fewer locations.

However, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) criticised the decision, accusing TikTok of prioritising "corporate greed over the safety of workers and the public." CWU tech officer John Chadfield warned that reducing human reviewers in favour of immature AI systems risks higher real-world costs. He also noted the cuts coincide with a vote on union recognition among employees.

TikTok maintains that automating moderation will "maximize effectiveness and speed," with current systems removing 85% of policy-violating content automatically. The company argues this approach also limits human exposure to distressing material.

Affected staff in London and parts of Asia can apply for other roles internally, with priority given to those meeting the new positions' requirements.

Regulatory pressure

The announcement comes after the UK's Online Safety Act took effect in July, imposing potential fines up to 10% of global turnover for platforms that fail to protect users, especially minors. TikTok introduced new parental controls alongside these regulations, yet still faces criticism. In March, the UK Information Commissioner's Office launched a "major investigation" into the company's safety measures.

TikTok's shift from human moderators to AI-driven systems marks a significant change in how the platform balances cost, speed, and user safety.

This topic was reported by BBC.

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