TikTok, the popular social media platform owned by China’s ByteDance, is laying off hundreds of employees worldwide. On Friday, the company confirmed the layoffs as it shifts focus towards using more artificial intelligence (AI) in its content moderation.
In Malaysia, more than 700 jobs were initially reported to be cut. Later, TikTok clarified that fewer than 500 employees in the country were affected. Most of the laid-off staff were involved in content moderation. The employees were informed of their dismissal via email on Wednesday.
TikTok responded to Reuters’ questions, stating that several hundred jobs globally would be impacted as part of an effort to improve moderation operations. The company uses a mix of automated systems and human moderators to review content posted on the platform.
ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has over 110,000 employees across more than 200 cities worldwide. More layoffs are expected next month as the company consolidates its regional operations.
A TikTok spokesperson stated that these changes are part of efforts to strengthen their global content moderation model. The company plans to invest $2 billion globally in trust and safety measures this year. Currently, 80% of harmful content is removed using automated systems.
The layoffs come as global tech companies, including TikTok, face increased regulatory pressure in Malaysia. The Government of Malaysia is urging social media operators to apply for an operating license by January to combat cyber offenses.
