TikTok is preparing to cut hundreds of jobs in the United Kingdom as part of a global restructuring, with the company shifting greater responsibility to artificial intelligence for moderating harmful content.
The video-sharing platform said it is concentrating operations in fewer locations, a move that will heavily impact trust and safety teams responsible for policing harmful material. Unions have condemned the decision, warning that reducing human oversight could compromise the safety of millions of British users.
Figures from the company suggest that more than 85% of videos breaching its community guidelines are now identified by automated systems, with 99% of harmful content removed before users report it. TikTok has argued that AI reduces the psychological strain on staff, as the number of graphic videos viewed by moderators has fallen sharply since its introduction.
The announcement comes just weeks after the Online Safety Act came into force, requiring social media platforms to take stronger action against dangerous content or face severe penalties.
Union officials said many staff members doubt the reliability of AI moderation and view it as an inadequate substitute for human judgement. They also criticised the timing of the layoffs, which coincided with employees preparing to vote on union recognition.
Under the restructuring plans, many roles will be relocated to other European hubs or outsourced to external providers, with only a limited number of moderation jobs remaining in Britain.
TikTok employs more than 2,500 people in the UK and is planning to open a new London headquarters next year.
A company spokesperson said the reorganisation aims to strengthen its global operating model, improve efficiency, and make greater use of technological advancements.
