TikTok Fires Hundreds of Employees, Replaces them with AI

Social Media Companies Reduce Content Moderation Teams Again

A number of leading social media companies have again taken steps to cut the number of employees in their content moderation teams. This was done as part of the company’s strategy to switch to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. TikTok, one of the platforms undergoing major changes, has reportedly cut hundreds of employees from its team.

This step is in line with trends taken by other companies such as Meta and Elon Musk’s X. Meta has also reduced the number of content moderation employees and shifted to a community-based system. Meanwhile, X now has a much smaller content moderation team than in Twitter’s days. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, TikTok’s policy primarily affects members of its 2,500-person content moderation team, which is based in the UK.

Additionally, content moderation employees from South Asia and Southeast Asia are also expected to be impacted by this reduction. Although exact numbers have not been disclosed, TikTok stated that more than 85% of content removed for violating community guidelines was identified and taken down by AI. This shows a significant increase in the use of automated technology.

This is not the only time TikTok has made cuts to its content moderation team. By the end of 2024, the company is laying off around 500 employees in Malaysia. In July, the ver.di labor union said that around 150 employees at TikTok’s Berlin, Germany office would also be replaced by AI.

At this time, why TikTok chose to reduce its content moderation team in the UK remains unclear. However, this decision comes just after the Online Safety Act came into effect last month. This regulation stipulates that online platforms operating in the UK can be subject to fines of up to 10% of global turnover or £18 million (around Rp. 294.3 billion).

On the other hand, the Financial Times (FT) noted that the workforce cuts were made just a week before employees in London held a vote regarding plans to form a union. According to internal company sources, this plan is often rejected by management.

TikTok’s official spokesperson told the FT that it was continuing the reorganization that began last year. The main objective is to strengthen the Trust and Safety global operational model. “This includes centralizing operations in fewer locations to be more effective and faster, while taking advantage of technological advances,” said the spokesperson.

However, John Chadfield, national organizer at the Communication Workers Union, believes that TikTok’s move shows the company’s intention to eliminate the role of human moderators. “They want everything handled by AI. AI makes them look smart and cutting-edge, but in reality they just want to shift the work overseas,” he said.

These reductions represent a major shift in how companies manage content. With the increasing use of AI, companies are trying to optimize costs and increase efficiency. However, it also sparked discussions about the impact on employees and the quality of content moderation.