TikTok's Global Workforce Cutbacks Signal Shift Toward AI Moderation

TikTok, the popular social media platform owned by China's ByteDance, announced significant layoffs across its global workforce, marking a pivotal shift in its operational strategy. Hundreds of employees are being let go as the company moves to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) more deeply into its content moderation processes. This decision is part of a broader initiative aimed at enhancing efficiency and strengthening its global content moderation capabilities.

Major Layoffs in Malaysia
Among the countries most affected by the layoffs is Malaysia, where TikTok has let go of a significant portion of its content moderation team. According to company sources, more than 700 jobs were initially reported to be cut in Malaysia, although TikTok later clarified that the number was closer to 500. Most of these employees worked on content moderation, ensuring that TikTok’s platform adhered to community guidelines and legal requirements.
Employees were informed of their dismissals via email late on Wednesday, October 11, in a move that was met with surprise across the workforce. Speaking to Reuters, insiders indicated that the decision was part of a larger strategy to streamline operations, with an increasing focus on automation over human labor.

AI Takes the Lead in Content Moderation
TikTok’s reliance on AI for content moderation is nothing new. The platform already employs a hybrid approach that combines automated detection systems with human moderators. However, this latest shift signals an even stronger push towards AI-driven processes, with the company stating that 80% of content violating community guidelines is now being removed through automated technologies.
The layoffs are part of a broader restructuring effort that TikTok says will improve operational efficiency while maintaining the platform’s trust and safety standards. The company has committed to investing $2 billion globally in its trust and safety initiatives this year, underscoring its ongoing efforts to create a secure environment for its users.
"We're making these changes as part of our ongoing efforts to further strengthen our global operating model for content moderation," a TikTok spokesperson said in response to the layoffs. While hundreds of employees have been affected globally, the company views the transition to AI moderation as a way to scale its operations more effectively and keep pace with growing regulatory requirements.

Regulatory Pressure in Malaysia
The layoffs also come at a time when TikTok is facing increased regulatory scrutiny in Malaysia. The Malaysian government has introduced stricter controls for social media platforms, requiring them to obtain operating licenses by January as part of efforts to curb cybercrime and harmful online content. Earlier this year, Malaysia reported a significant increase in harmful social media content, urging platforms like TikTok to improve their content monitoring systems.
By transitioning toward AI moderation, TikTok aims to align with the rising regulatory demands, not just in Malaysia but globally. Automated systems are seen as more scalable solutions in handling the vast amount of content uploaded to the platform daily, offering a quicker response to harmful posts than human moderation.

More Changes on the Horizon
Reports suggest that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, may initiate more layoffs next month as it looks to further consolidate its regional operations. With over 110,000 employees spread across more than 200 cities worldwide, ByteDance continues to refine its business model, balancing between human oversight and AI advancements.
The Malaysian Reserve first reported these job cuts on Thursday, highlighting the growing challenges for global technology firms operating in Malaysia. The regulatory environment is tightening, and TikTok's decision to streamline content moderation through AI can be seen as a proactive measure to stay ahead of these changes.