TikTok confirms layoffs, affecting Malaysian content moderators

Malaysian media has reported that the short video platform TikTok has confirmed the layoff of hundreds of employees, including staff in Malaysia, primarily involved in content moderation.

According to a statement from TikTok, the adjustments are aimed at enhancing the operational model for global content moderation. The company plans to invest US$2 billion (approximately HK$15.6 billion) this year in the global trust and safety sector to further increase efficiency. 80% of violating content is removed through automated technology currently.

Sources cited by Reuters report that TikTok's parent company ByteDance has cut over 700 positions from its Malaysian branch as the company shifts its focus towards more extensive use of AI for content moderation. The affected employees, mostly content moderators, were notified of their termination on Wednesday evening (Oct. 9).

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