TikTok reshapes safety teams amid layoffs and AI push

TikTok is undergoing a major shake-up, with about 300 employees from its London operations expected to lose their jobs as part of a global restructuring plan. The decision, revealed in an internal memo and later reported by international media, affects staff working in content moderation, trust, and safety roles.

The Chinese-owned platform said it intends to centralize its moderation and quality assurance operations in fewer global locations, moving much of the work to other European offices and parts of Asia. Employees in London, who have long been responsible for screening harmful or illegal content on the app, were informed that their roles would be affected. A town hall meeting was scheduled to address questions and next steps for impacted staff.

According to the Communication Workers Union, which represents some TikTok staff, the restructuring amounts to nearly 300 jobs being cut. The union accused the company of prioritizing corporate efficiency over the well-being of employees and public safety. “TikTok workers have been warning for years about the dangers of reducing human moderation in favor of immature AI tools,” said John Chadfield, CWU’s national officer for technology. He added that the timing of the layoffs just as employees prepare to vote on union recognition raises further concerns.

TikTok, however, has defended the move, arguing that new technologies can enhance both efficiency and safety. A company spokesperson stated, “We are continuing a reorganisation that began last year to strengthen our global model for trust and safety. These changes will allow us to maximize speed and effectiveness with the benefit of technological advancements.”

TikTok under pressure from safety rules and regulators

The restructuring comes as TikTok faces mounting regulatory pressure in the UK and Europe. Earlier this month, the UK’s new Online Safety Act came into effect, imposing strict rules on digital platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and X. The law requires companies to protect minors from harmful material, verify user ages, and swiftly remove illegal content. Non-compliance could result in fines of up to 10% of a company’s global turnover.

To comply, TikTok has rolled out new parental controls, including options to block specific accounts from contacting children and more transparent privacy settings for teenagers. It also introduced age verification measures to limit exposure to adult or harmful material. Despite these steps, the platform has faced criticism from campaigners and regulators who argue it still falls short of ensuring user safety.

The UK’s data watchdog has already launched what it described as a “major investigation” into TikTok earlier this year, focusing on how it handles child safety and user data. Against this backdrop, cutting hundreds of human moderation jobs risks fueling fresh criticism.

At present, TikTok relies on a combination of AI-driven systems and human moderators to enforce community guidelines. The company claims that 85% of content flagged for violating rules is removed automatically by algorithms before it reaches human review. Executives argue that reducing human exposure to distressing content is also a protective measure for staff. Still, unions and critics caution that AI alone cannot fully identify nuanced or context-driven violations, such as hate speech or misinformation. Also Read: Blaze Wins 61kg Title With Stunning Performance in Wrestling Championship

Globally, TikTok is also working on large language models and other AI-based tools to power moderation and recommendations. Analysts see this as part of a wider trend among tech companies to automate sensitive functions that were once labor-intensive. However, the risks of overreliance on AI especially in a climate of increasing regulatory scrutiny remain significant.

Conclusion

TikTok’s decision to cut around 300 jobs in London marks a turning point in how the platform approaches content safety. While the company insists that AI-led moderation will improve speed and accuracy, unions and regulators warn that reducing human oversight could compromise user protection. With strict new safety laws in the UK and ongoing investigations into its practices, TikTok now faces the difficult challenge of proving that technological solutions can replace human judgment without putting users at greater risk.