Story Highlight
– TikTok plans 439 job cuts in UK content moderation.
– Unions warn this may increase online safety risks.
– Critics allege union-busting motives behind job reductions.
– Cuts could expose children to harmful content online.
– TikTok disputes claims, citing ongoing operational restructuring.
Full Story
Trade unions and specialists in online safety have called on Members of Parliament to probe TikTok’s plan to eliminate nearly 440 positions for content moderators in the UK. The company plans to cut 439 roles within its trust and safety team in London, raising concerns about the potential repercussions for online safety.
An open letter directed to Chi Onwurah MP, who chairs the science, innovation and technology committee, has been signed by the Trades Union Congress, the Communication Workers Union, and prominent online safety advocates. The authors of the letter express apprehension that these job losses could increase the risk of children encountering harmful content, referencing data from the UK’s data protection authority, which estimates that as many as 1.4 million TikTok users are below the age of 13 among its 30 million UK account holders.
The letter states, “These safety-critical workers are the frontline of protecting users and communities from deepfakes, toxicity and abuse.” It further claims that TikTok intends to supplant human moderators with automated systems and personnel based in countries like Kenya and the Philippines.
Additionally, the signatories accuse TikTok, which is owned by a Chinese company, of undermining union efforts by announcing the job cuts a mere eight days before scheduled voting on union recognition by the CWU’s technology branch. “There is no proper business case for making these redundancies,” the letter argues, noting that TikTok is experiencing a 40% revenue surge in the UK and Europe. It criticizes the company for prioritizing cost-cutting over the rights of workers, user safety, and the reliability of online information.
Among the signatories is Ian Russell, father of Molly Russell, who tragically took her own life after being exposed to harmful content online. Other notable figures include Meta whistleblower Arturo Bejar and Sonia Livingstone, a professor of social psychology at the London School of Economics. The letter urges the committee to investigate how the redundancies could impact online safety and workers’ rights, as well as consider legislative measures to obstruct the offshoring of content moderation and the replacement of human moderators with AI.
In response to inquiries about the letter, Chi Onwurah remarked that the proposed layoffs suggest a reassessment of TikTok’s dedication to content moderation. She highlighted concerns about the role of recommendation algorithms used by TikTok in leading users to potentially dangerous and misleading content. Onwurah noted that the planned redundancies seem contradictory to TikTok’s previous assurances given to her committee regarding the company’s commitment to safety and investment in personnel.
Onwurah stated, “TikTok told the committee of its commitment to upholding the highest standards in protecting both its users and its employees. How does this announcement align with that commitment?”
A spokesperson for TikTok responded, “We strongly reject these claims. We are continuing a reorganization that we started last year to strengthen our global operating model for Trust and Safety, including concentrating our operations in fewer locations globally, ensuring we maximize effectiveness and speed as we evolve this critical function for the company with the benefit of technological advancements.” The spokesperson added that TikTok has been engaging with the CWU and is open to further discussions following the conclusion of the redundancy consultations.
