TikTok has announced plans to cut hundreds of jobs globally, with a significant number of layoffs expected in Malaysia, as the company transitions to AI-assisted content moderation.
Owned by China-based ByteDance, TikTok confirmed on Friday that several hundred positions will be eliminated worldwide, though specific country figures were not disclosed. Reports suggest that fewer than 500 jobs in Malaysia could be affected.
A TikTok spokesperson stated that the job cuts are part of an effort to enhance content moderation, saying, “We plan to invest USD2 billion globally in trust and safety in 2024 and continue improving the effectiveness of our efforts, with 80 percent of harmful content now removed by automated technologies.”
TikTok uses both human moderators and automated systems to review content on the platform.
The restructuring comes after months of speculation about TikTok’s plans to reduce its global workforce, particularly in operations and marketing.
The layoffs also occur as tech companies face growing regulatory scrutiny in Malaysia, where authorities have urged social media platforms to tackle increasing cybercrime, including online fraud, sexual crimes, and cyberbullying. (AZERTAC | PNA)
