TikTok lays off hundreds as AI takes over content moderation

TikTok, owned by ByteDance, has laid off hundreds of employees worldwide, including around 500 in Malaysia, as the platform shifts toward AI-powered content moderation.

The layoffs, which were communicated via email, are part of a broader effort to optimize TikTok's global moderation operations.

A TikTok spokesperson stated that the decision is aimed at improving efficiency in content moderation, which combines AI and human oversight.

The company has invested $2 billion globally in trust and safety, with 80% of harmful content now being removed by AI.

Human moderators, who have faced difficult working conditions, including low pay and exposure to distressing content, are being gradually replaced as AI technology becomes more capable of handling violations such as nudity, violence, and other policy breaches.

Despite the growing role of AI, TikTok’s moderation system still involves human reviewers for content flagged for appeals.

The platform has faced criticism for the toll the job takes on human moderators' mental health, prompting TikTok to claim it is investing in support for employees.

These layoffs occur amid increasing regulatory pressure in regions like Malaysia, where the government is pushing social media firms to improve content moderation to combat cyber offenses.

TikTok has also faced legal challenges in the US, where states have accused the platform of harming teenagers' mental health through addictive features.

This shift to AI content moderation reflects a larger trend in the tech industry, where automation is increasingly replacing human roles to improve efficiency and reduce costs.