TikTok, the popular social media platform owned by China’s ByteDance, is laying off hundreds of employees globally, including around 500 employees in Malaysia.
TikTok transitions to greater use of artificial intelligence (AI) in its content moderation processes. The company confirmed these layoffs on Friday. TikTok said fewer than 500 staff members in Malaysia were affected.
The layoffs primarily impact employees involved in content moderation, who were notified of their dismissal via email earlier this week, Reuters news report said. TikTok is restructuring its moderation operations to boost efficiency and strengthen its global model. The move comes as part of a broader effort to integrate more AI-driven content moderation, with 80 percent of content that violates guidelines already being removed by automated systems.
A TikTok spokesperson said that the company plans to invest $2 billion globally in trust and safety initiatives this year. The layoffs are reportedly part of a larger restructuring plan, with additional cuts expected next month as TikTok consolidates regional operations.
The job reductions come at a time when Malaysia has ramped up regulatory pressure on social media platforms to combat rising cybercrime. The Malaysian government has mandated that platforms like TikTok apply for an operating license by January 2024, following a surge in harmful content online earlier this year.
