TikTok has announced the layoffs of hundreds of jobs worldwide, including in Malaysia, as it shifts resources toward automated solutions like artificial intelligence (AI) for content moderation.
The platform, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, did not specify the exact number of job cuts by country. A spokesperson stated that this move aims to enhance TikTok's efforts in moderating user-generated content, particularly through "automated" solutions.
In Malaysia, fewer than 500 positions may be affected, according to the spokesperson. TikTok's website indicated in a November 2023 note that it employs "thousands of employees" across "six continents," without further details.
The spokesperson also mentioned plans to invest $2 billion globally in trust and safety initiatives in 2024, emphasizing that 80% of content violations are now removed through automated technologies.
TikTok uses a combination of human moderators and automated detection tools to review and remove inappropriate content. These announcements come amid stricter regulations for tech giants in Malaysia, where the government is requiring social media platforms to obtain operating licenses to combat rising cybercrime.