TikTok's AI Shift Puts Hundreds of UK Moderator Jobs at Risk Amid New Safety Rules

TikTok's Global Reorganization Impacts Trust and Safety Teams

TikTok has placed hundreds of UK content moderators' jobs at risk, coinciding with the implementation of stricter online safety regulations aimed at curbing harmful material. The viral video app announced that several hundred positions in its trust and safety team could be affected not only in the UK but also in south and south-east Asia, as part of a broader global reorganization.

Shift Towards Artificial Intelligence

This move is part of TikTok's strategy to increasingly rely on artificial intelligence for content moderation. According to the platform, over 85% of content removed for violating community guidelines is identified and taken down by automated systems. The affected work will be reallocated to other European offices and third-party providers, with some trust and safety roles remaining in the UK.

Concerns Over User Safety

Despite these changes, new UK online safety rules have recently come into effect, requiring companies to implement age checks for users accessing potentially harmful content. Violations can result in fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global turnover, whichever is greater. John Chadfield of the Communication Workers Union warned that replacing human moderators with AI could endanger the safety of millions of TikTok users, highlighting long-standing concerns about the immaturity of AI alternatives.

Broader Context and Company Performance

TikTok, owned by Chinese tech group ByteDance, employs over 2,500 staff in the UK. Over the past year, the company has been cutting trust and safety staff worldwide, often substituting them with automated systems. For instance, it fired 300 content moderators in the Netherlands in September and announced plans to replace about 500 employees in Malaysia in October. Last week, workers in Germany held strikes over similar layoffs.

Meanwhile, TikTok's business is thriving. Recent filings with Companies House showed a 38% revenue growth to $6.3 billion (£4.7 billion) in 2024, with operating losses narrowing significantly from $1.4 billion in 2023 to $485 million. A TikTok spokesperson stated that the reorganization aims to strengthen the global operating model for trust and safety by concentrating operations in fewer locations to maximize effectiveness and speed, leveraging technological advancements.