admin TikTok, owned by ByteDance, is undergoing a significant shift by embracing AI for content moderation. This move led to the layoff of hundreds of employees, with Malaysia seeing a large portion of the cuts. According to sources, more than 500 employees in Malaysia were affected, many of whom were part of TikTok’s content moderation team.
The company is responding to growing pressure from regulators in various countries, particularly Malaysia, which reported an increase in harmful online content. As a result, the government has asked social media platforms to obtain operating licenses by January to tackle cyber offenses more effectively.
TikTok plans to invest $2 billion globally in trust and safety operations this year. As it transitions towards using more AI technologies, about 80% of content that violates guidelines is now automatically removed. However, human moderators still play a role in handling more complex cases.
The layoffs are part of a broader plan to streamline TikTok’s operations and improve efficiency across the board. The company is expected to make additional staff reductions next month as it consolidates regional functions. TikTok’s shift towards AI moderation is aimed at enhancing its ability to manage content faster and more efficiently while adapting to regulatory changes globally.
As TikTok continues to evolve, the company remains focused on improving user safety and ensuring it complies with regional requirements, making this shift to AI moderation a critical step in maintaining its global presence.
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