Social media platform TikTok has announced plans to cut hundreds of jobs, with a notable impact expected in Malaysia as the company transitions to AI-assisted content moderation. TikTok, which is owned by China-based ByteDance, revealed on Friday that it would be reducing several hundred positions globally, though it did not specify the breakdown by country. It is anticipated that fewer than 500 jobs in Malaysia will be affected by this decision.
A TikTok spokesperson explained that the job cuts are part of an initiative to enhance content moderation. 'We plan to invest $2 billion globally in trust and safety initiatives in 2024 alone and are continually improving the effectiveness of our efforts, with 80% of violative content now being removed by automated technologies,' the spokesperson stated in a concise statement.
The company employs a blend of human moderators and automated detection systems to review content posted on the platform. This restructuring follows months of speculation that TikTok was considering a significant reduction in its global operations and marketing workforce. According to the company's website, ByteDance has over 110,000 employees spread across more than 200 cities worldwide.
The layoffs also coincide with increased regulatory scrutiny in Malaysia, where a surge in malicious content on social media was reported earlier this year. The government of the Southeast Asian nation has since requested that social media platforms apply for an operating license in an effort to combat rising cybercrime, including online fraud, sexual crimes against children, and cyberbullying.
