ByteDance lays off hundreds as TikTok shifts toward AI content moderation

TikTok parent company, ByteDance, is reportedly laying off hundreds of employees as it moves towards enhancing its AI-based content moderation. The company announced on Friday (Oct. 11) that a large number of staff would be cut in Malaysia. According to sources cited by Reuters, around 500 employees in the country were affected.

The layoffs largely impacted content moderation teams, who were notified through email on Wednesday. TikTok reportedly confirmed the global workforce reductions, which affected several hundred employees as part of the company’s efforts to streamline its moderation operations. The social media firm uses a combination of automated systems and human moderators to manage content oversight.

ByteDance’s website states that it has over 150,000 employees based out of nearly 120 cities worldwide. However, TikTok may lay off more staff next month as it aims to consolidate certain regional operations, according to one of the sources.

A TikTok spokesperson told Reuters: “We’re making these changes as part of our ongoing efforts to further strengthen our global operating model for content moderation.”

TikTok is said to be investing $2 billion globally in trust and safety initiatives, with AI now responsible for removing 80% of content that violates guidelines.

The layoffs come amid heightened regulatory scrutiny in Malaysia, where the government is forcing social media platforms secure operating licenses by January to tackle concerns over cybercrime.

ReadWrite has also previously reported about the potential ban of the app in the United States. In September, it began making its case in a U.S. court over a law to force the app’s sale.

Attorneys for the Chinese company behind TikTok argued that the legislation is unconstitutional after President Joe Biden signed the measure into law in April. The regulation was brought in after concerns that U.S. citizens’ data was vulnerable to exploitation by China’s government.

ReadWrite has reached out to TikTok for comment.

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