ByteDance's TikTok Shifts Focus Towards AI Content Moderation, Leading to Hundreds of Job Cuts
TikTok implements job cuts globally, with a focus on AI content moderation. ByteDance clarifies the number of affected employees in Malaysia. The company plans further staff reductions to streamline regional operations.

The company is transitioning towards a more prominent use of artificial intelligence in content moderation, prompting this strategic move.
Reports initially suggested that over 700 jobs were eliminated in Malaysia, but TikTok clarified that fewer than 500 employees in the country were affected. The majority of those laid off were engaged in content moderation tasks and were notified of their dismissal via email.
TikTok confirmed the layoffs, stating that several hundred employees globally would be impacted as part of a broader initiative to enhance its moderation processes. The platform currently utilises a combination of automated detection and human moderators to vet content.
ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, boasts a workforce of over 110,000 employees across more than 200 cities worldwide. The tech firm is also planning further staff reductions in the coming month to streamline its regional operations.
A TikTok spokesperson explained, "We're making these changes as part of our ongoing efforts to further strengthen our global operating model for content moderation." The company is set to invest US$2 billion globally in trust and safety measures this year, aiming to enhance efficiency with 80% of guidelines-violating content now being removed by automated technologies.
The job cuts were initially reported by The Malaysian Reserve, coinciding with increased regulatory scrutiny faced by tech companies in Malaysia. The government has mandated social media platforms to apply for operating licenses by January to combat cyber offences, following a surge in harmful social media content earlier this year.
TikTok implements job cuts globally, with a focus on AI content moderation.
ByteDance clarifies the number of affected employees in Malaysia.
The company plans further staff reductions to streamline regional operations.
Source: REUTERS